HISTORY 


OF 


MAMAEONECK. 


')      \\ 


;;•"■,,«,■,,':  ■   '; 


^(cm  y&M^ 


Reproduced  from  the  Engraving  from  the  Original  Painting  in  possession  of  the 
Rt.  Rev.  W.  H.  De  Lancey,  Bishop  of  Western  New  York. 


TITSTORT 


'*¥  ifMlK 


TOWN   OF   MAMAliONECK 


,'^i*' .' '*ii8i* 


OOTJNTY    01^'    WI^M^CHESTER 


AJ»D 


STATE    r)F   NKW    YORK 


"UitS  AM^^^^-^ 


HISTORY 


OF   THE 


TOWN  OF  MAMARONP]CK 


IN   THK 


COUNTY    OF    WESTCHESTER 


AND 


STATE    OF   NEW   YORK. 


BY 

EDWAED   F.  DE  LANCEY 


NEW   YORK 
1886. 


i 


■1^  ^'i 


1    > 


jk 


'I' 


f  I 


I    B    /^    D      I 


'H)   TMK 

HOXORAHLK    MATTHIAS    BANTA, 

FOR   MANY    VEARH 

SUPERVISOR  OF  MAMARONECK, 

UNANIM0r8I,Y    ELECTED, 

THIS  VOLUME  IS  INSCRIBED 

BY   HIS   FRIEND, 

THE  AUTHOK. 


PREFATORY    NOTE. 


This  volume  is  simply  a  separatoly-printed  chapUM"  from  "  Scharf's  His- 
tory of  Westchester  County."  Owing  to  the  rapidity  with  which  the  chapter 
was  originally  printed,  a  very  ivw  points  intended  to  have  appeared  therein 
were  accidentally  omitted.  > 


.,  .1       I  ,  .1 


MAMAEONECK. 


The  Town  of  Mamaroneck  was  erected  as  a  Town 
with  its  present  boundaries  by  the  "Act  for  dividing 
the  Counties  of  this  State  into  Towns,"  passed  the 
7th  of  March  1788.>  The  language  of  the  Act  is, 
"And  all  that  part  of  the  said  County  of  Westchester, 
bounded  southerly  by  New  Rochelle,  easterly  by  the 
Sound,  Northerly  by  Mamaroneck  River,  and  westerly 
by  the  Town  of  Scarsdale,  shall  be,  and  hereby  is, 
erected  into  a  Town,  by  the  n;inie  of  Mamaroneck." 
Scarsdale,  which  comes  just  befoi  -  Mamaroneck  in  the 
Act,  was  erected  into  a  town  witii  these  boundaries: 
"  Westerly  by  Bronx  River,  Southerly  by  the  Town  of 
Eastchester  and  New  Rochelle,  easterly  by  the  East 
Bounds  of  a  Tract  of  Land  called  the  Manor  of  Scars- 
dale,  and  Northerly  by  the  North  Bounds  of  the 
said  Manor  of  Scarsdale."  Both  Towns  were  carved 
out  of  the  old  Manor  of  Scarsdale,  hence  the  ref- 
erence to  Scarsdale  in  the  boundaries  of  each.  The 
latter  have  never  been  altered  since  the  erection  of 
the  Town  and  are  its  bounds  to-day.  It  fronts  upon 
Long  Island  Sound,  and  extends  from  it  north- 
westward nearly  four  miles,  with  an  average  width 
of  nearly  three  miles.  It  is  situated  twenty-one  miles 
Northeast  of  New  York  City,  and  is  distant  South 
from  Albany,  the  Capital  of  the  State  of  New  York, 
about  one  hundred  and  forty  miles,  and  the  village 
is  south  from  White  Plains,  the  county  seat,  seven 
miles.  All  these  distances  are  those  of  the  roads  as 
they  existed  prior  to  the  introduction  of  Rail-Roads. 

The  town  of  Mamaroneck  has  an  area  of  about  4000 
acres,  or  fij  square  miles.  Its  population  as  shown  by 
the  State  and  U.  S.  census  reports  at  different  periods, 
has  been  as  follows:  in  ]7!K),  452:  in  1800,503;  in 
1810,  4%;  in  1814,  7!)7;  in  1820,  878;  in  1825,  1032; 
in  1830,  838 ;  in  1835, 882 ;  in  1840,  141  (! ;  in  1845,  780 ; 
in  1850,  928;  in  1855,  1068;  in  I860,  1351  ;  in  1865, 
1392;  in  1870,  1484;  in  1875,  1425;  in  1880,  1863. 
Owing  to  a  political  squabble  in  1885,  the  Legislature 
being  Republican,  and  the  (Governor  a  Democrat,  the 
former  would  not  pass  a  law  to  take  a  census  in  that 
year,  consequently  there  are  no  figures  for  it,  but  the 
population  is  now  believed  to  be  2000.  The  average 
number  of  voters  is  about  350. 

The  name  is  Indian,  and  signifies  "The  Place  where 
the  Fresh  water  falls  into  the  Salt,"  and  describes  the 
unusual  natural  fact,  that  the  bed  of  the  Mamaro- 
neck River  some  distance  above  the  place  of  the 
present  bridge  connecting  it  with  the  town  of  Rye, 


>  II,  June!  and  Vdrck's  Ijiwi,  3in. 


(at  which  place  a  bridge  did  not  exist  till  the  ynt 
1800)  was  originally  crossed  by  a  ledge  of  rocks 
sufficiently  high  to  prevent  the  tide  rising  above 
it,  over  which  the  fresh  water  fell  directly  into  the 
salt  water,  and  at  low  tide  with  a  strong  rush  and 
sound.'  The  Indians  gave  the  name  to  the  place  of 
this  uncommon  occurrence  and  to  the  River  itself. 

In  the  earliest  deeds  and  documents,  the  word  is 
spelled  "  Momoronock,"  "Maraoronack"and  "Mam- 
aranock;"  the  modern  spelling  does  not  seem  to 
have  obtained  generally  till  toward  the  middle  of  the 
eighteenth  century.  Very  many  ways  of  spelling 
this  word  are  met  with,  but  all  evidently  aiming  at 
expressing  its  Indian  sound.  The  Indians  having  no 
written  language,  all  their  names  and  other  words 
which  we  now  have,  are  based  upon  the  reproducing 
of  their  spoken  sounds  in  our  letters.  If  a  Dutch- 
man, Frenchman  or  an  Englishman,  undertook  to 
write  the  same  word  from  an  Indian's  mouth,  very 
different  looking  and  sounding  words  would  be  pro- 
duced. And  as  very  many  of  our  New  York  Indian 
terms  and  names  represent  an  English  spelling  of  a 
Dutch  or  French  translation  of  an  Indian  sound,  we 
should  never  be  surprised  at  any  variety  of  spelling." 

Though  erected  a  town  so  late  as  1788,  Mama- 
roneck is  one  of  the  oldest  places  in  the  County  and 
the  State,  dating  back  to  1661,  when  the  then 
Indian  owners  Wappaquewam  and  Mahatahan 
sold  and  deeded  their  individual  lands  to  John 
Richbell,  an  Englishman,  on  the  21st  of  Sep- 
tember 1661.  Long  previous  to  this  time,  and  in  the 
year  1640  the  entire  and  general  Indian  title,  both 
to  the  land  and  the  sovereignty,  of  all  the  territory 
of  southeastern  Westchester  and  Connecticut  as  far 
east  as  the  Norwalk  Islands  inclusive,  had  been  ob- 
tained for  the  Dutch  West  India  Company  by  pur- 
chase by  Governor  Kieft,  through  Cornelius  van  Tien- 
hoven,  from  the  Siwanoy  Indians.*  Richbell  however 
was  the  first  white  man  to  purchase  the  individual 
right  of  the  local  Indian  owners  to  the  lands  at  Ma- 
maroneck. 

He  was  an  Plnglishman  of  a  Hampshire   family  of 


3 Time,  blflHting,  and  a  Buccewtun  uf  danii,  have  oliliterated  the  orig- 
inal ledge,  but  tkv  remains  of  the  reef  can  still  be  seen. 

^Ithaa  iHien  stateil  that  "  Mamaroneck'*  meant  *' the  place  of  rolling 
stones,**  but  for  this  f  can  not  titid  any  authority.  Therv  are  not  rolling 
stones  anywiiere  about  Mamaroneck  either  in  the  rirer  or  the  town, 
though  Iwth  abound  with  rocks  I'li  ailil,  lu  the  lauguaguof  the  geologista. 

*  I.  Brod.  '200,  11.  AUiaiiy  Kscerds  78,  147,  II.  Ua»ird  27;i,  1.  O'Call, 
N.  N.  21.1. 


MAMARONECK. 


Bouthampton  or  its  neighborhood,  who  were  mer- 
chai.ts  ill  London,  and  who  had  business  tranaactions 
with  the  West  Indies  and  with  New  England.  He 
was  in  CharlcHtown  Massachusetts  in  1648  according 
to  Siivagc's  (tenealogical  Dictionary,  and  he  appears 
in  an  Inventory  of  the  estate  of  Robert  Gibson  of 
Boston,  as  owing  the  estate  36£  on  the  8th  of  August 
1656.  Prior  to  1657  he  had  I)een  in  St.  Christopher's 
Island  in  the  West  Indies.  In  1657  he  entered  into 
a  business  pnrtnershi]>  in  Barbadoes,  then  the  centre 
of  the  English  trade  with  the  West  Indier  ar.d  North 
America,  being  at  that  time,  ns  it  is  now,  an  English 
Island.  The  severe  aud  oppressive  English  Naviga- 
tion laws  the  scope  of  >vhich  Cromwell  had  enlarged, 
and  which  he  strictly  enforced,  drove  many  English- 
men at  that  period  to  embark  in  a  contraband  trade, 
a  trade  whicli  increased  in  the  nextcentury  to  so  great 
an  extent  in  North  America,  that  the  severe  measurts 
adopted  by  the  English  Government  to  suppres.  it 
in  the  latter  part  of  that  century  provJ  to  be  one  of 
the  strongest,  if  not  very  strongest  of  the  causes  of 
the  American  Revolution. '  At  Barbadoes  the  follow- 
ing curious  and  striking  agreement  was  entered  into 
by  John  Richbell  with  Thomas  Modi  ford  of  that  island, 
and  William  Siiarpe  of  Southampton,  to  establish  on 
the  North  American  coast  a  plantation  for  the  carry- 
ing on  a  trade  not  permitted  by  the  Navigation  laws. 

It  is  headed, 

"  iMtrucUons  delivered  Mr.  John  Richbell  in  order  to 
the  intended  settlement  of  a  Plantation  in  the  south-west 
parts  of  New  England,  in  f>eha(f  of  himself  and  of 
nibtcrihers  .•" 

"  God  sending  you  to  arrive  safely  in  New  England 
our  advice  is  that  you  informeyourselfe  fully  by  sober 
understanding  men  of  that  parte  of  land  which  lyeth 
betwixt  Connecticott  and  the  Dutch  CoUony  and  of 
the  seacoast  belonging  to  the  same  and  the  islands 
that  lye  bettwixt  Long  Island  and  the  Maine,  viz. : 
within  what  government  it  is,  and  of  what  kinde 
that  government  is,  whether  very  strict  or  remisse, 
who  the  Chiefe  Magistrates  are,  on  what  termea  ye 
Indians  stand  with  them,  and  what  bounds  the  Dutch 
pretend  to,  and  being  satisfyed  in  these  particulars, 
(viz.)  that  you  may  with  security  settle  there  and 
without  oiTence  to  any.  Then  our  advise  is  that  you 
endeavor  to  buy  some  small  Plantation  that  is  already 
settled  and  hath  an  house  and  some  quantity  of 
ground  cleared  and  which  lyeth  so  as  you  may  en- 
large into  the  woods  at  pleasure  in  each,  be  sure  not 
to  fayle  of  these  accommodations. 

"  I.  That  it  be  near  some  navigable  Ryver,  or  at  least 
some  safe  port  or  harbor,  and  that  the  way  to  it  be 
neither  longe  or  difficult. 

"II.  That  it  he  well  watered  by  some  running 
streame  or  at  least  by  some  fresh  ponds  and  springs 
near  adjoining. 

■  The  ramoiia  came  of  the  Write  at  AisUtanc*,  in  which  Juhii  Adanu 
first  (liRtintniiohed  liiiiiHetf,  were  lu  defence  of  Boeton  MerchMnte  en- 
gaged  In  thie  contraband  trade. 


"  III.  That  it  be  well  wooded  which  I  thinke  you  can 
hardly  misse  of.  That  it  be  healthy  high  ground, 
not  bogs  or  fens  for  the  hopes  of  all  consists  in  that 
consideration. 

"  Being  thus  fitted  with  a  place  look  carefully  into 
the  title  and  be  sure  to  have  all  pretenders  satisfied 
before  you  purchase,  for  to  fall  into  an  imbroylid  dis- 
putable title  would  trouble  us  more  than  all  other 
charges  whatsoever.  Having  passed  these  difflcultyes 
and  your  family  brought  in  the  place  direct  your 
whole  forces  towards  the  increase  of  provision  which 
must  be  according  to  their  seasons,  for  planting  of 
corne,  pease,  beanes  and  other  provisions  which  the 
country  affords,  increasing  your  orchards  and  gardens, 
your  pastures  and  inclosures;  and  for  ye  familyes 
employment  in  the  long  winter  be  sure  by  the  first 
opportunity  to  put  an  acre  or  two  of  hemp-seed  into 
the  ground,  of  which  you  may  in  the  winter  make  a 
ijuantity  of  canvass  and  cordage  for  your  own  use.  ^n 
the  fulling  and  clearing  your  ground  save  all  y(  ur 
principal  timber  for  pipe  stands  and  clap  board  and 
knee  timber,  &c.,  and  with  the  rest  endeavor  to  make 
Pott  ash,  which  will  sufficiently  recompense  the 
charge  of  falling  the  ground.  But  still  mindfull  not 
to  put  so  many  hands  about  the  matter  of  present 
profitt  that  you  do  in  the  meane  tyme  neglect  planting 
or  sowing  the  grounds  that  are  fitt  for  provisions,  our 
further  advice  is  that  as  you  increase  in  pasture  fitt 
for  cattle  and  sheep  you  fayle  not  tostocke  them  well, 
but  be  sure  never  to  over-stock  them  by  taking  more 
than  you  can  well  keep,  for  an  hungry  cowe  will 
never  turne  to  account.  Lastly  we  desire  you  to  ad- 
vise us  or  either  of  us  how  affairs  stand  with  you, 
what  your  wants  are  and  how  they  may  ^e  most  ad- 
vantageously employed  by  us  :  for  the  life  of  our  bus- 
iness will  consist  in  the  nimble,  quiet  and  full  corre- 
spondence with  us;  and  although  in  these  instructirms 
we  have  given  you  clearly  indicates,  yet  we  are  not 
satisfied  that  you  must  needs  bring  in  the  place  so 
many  difficultyes  and  also  observe  many  inconve- 
niencies  which  we  at  this  distance  cannot  possibly 
imagine  and  therefore  we  refer  all  wholly  to  your 
discretion,  not  doubting  but  that  you  will  doe  all 
things  to  the  best  advantage  of  our  designe  thereby 
obliedging 

your  faithful  friends  and  servants 
Thos.  Modiford 

Will.  Sharpe.' 
Barbadoes,  Sept.  18,  1657." 

The  precise  date  of  Richbell's  arrival  in  the  prov- 
ince of  New  York  is  not  now  known.  He  seems  first  to 
have  gone  to  Oyster  Bay  Long  Island,  and  thence  to 
Mamaroneck.  He  certainly  could  not  have  found  a 
place  more  in  accordance  with  his  "  instructions  "  on 
the  whole  coast  of  North  America  than  the  latter. 

Directly  on  the  Sound,  dose  to  Connecticut,  and 
claimed  by  its  people,  but  a  part  of  the  Dutch  prov- 


>  De«d  Bool<  ili.  126,  Sec.  uf  gtate'i  OIT*,  Alb. 


MAMARONECK. 


8 


ince  of  New  Nethcrlund  and  ruled  by  its  authoritiex, 
with  a  running  river  fulling  directly  into  its  liarbour 
the  latter  overlooked  by  high  wooded  hilla,  and  its 
borders  slcirted  by  the  cleared  "  planting  fields  "  of 
the  Indians,  and  within  a  day's  easy  sail  of  the 
"  Manhadoes"  it  was  well  adapted  to  the  "  nimble  " 
business  proposed  to  be  can''  il  on  by  his  IJarbadoes 
friends  and  himself.  liichbeil  first  went  to  Oyster 
Bay,  where  on  tho  r>th  of  Septemlier  IKtJd  he  bought 
the  beautiful  ])eninsula,  afterwards  and  still  known 
as  ''  Lloyd's  Neck."  He  had  a  controversy  with  the 
Oyster  Bay  people  about  some  land  at  Matinecock, 
which  he  also  bought,  and  which  was  finally  settled 
in  his  favor.  In  ItJCS,  after  the  English  conquest  he 
obtained  a  patent  for  Lloyd's  Neck  from  Governor 
Nicolls  dat(^d  December  18th  lt)()5,  and  the  next  year 
sold  it  to  Nathaniel  Sylvester,  Thomas  Hart,  and 
Latimer  Sampon,  for  450£,  by  deed  dated  October  18, 
1666.'  He  then  resided  at  Oyster  Buy  where  in  1662 
he  was  appoiit.jd  a  constable.'  In  the  preceding  year 
1661  his  name  .  ppearg  on  the  Southampton  Records 
as  a  witness  to  a  mortgage  to  one  Mills  on  a  Virginia 
plantation.'  In  May  1601  he  was  one  of  the  Commis- 
sioners for  the  five  P^nglish  Towns  in  Long  Island." 
In  the  autumn  of  that  year  the  English  captured  New 
York  from  the  Dutch.  Of  the  expedition  to  attempt 
that  capture  Kichbell  probably  hud  early  knowledge. 
It  will  be  recollected  that  two  of  the  ships  the 
"Martin"  and  the  "William  and  l^icolas,"  of  the 
expedition  sent  to  capture  New  Netherland  by  the 
Duke  of  York,  were  forced  to  run  into  PiseatHway, 
now  Portsmouth,  New  Hampshire,  on  the  20th  of 
July  1664,  on  board  of  which  were  Carr  and  Maver- 
icke,  two  of  the  Commissioners.'  One  or  both  of 
them  knew,  or  had  lettere  to  John  Richbell  who  ap- 
parently was  then  in  Boston  to  whom  they  sent  the 
following  communication  announcing  their  arrival, 
written  the  third  day  after  it  happened, — 
"Mr.  Richbell 

Wee  shall  desire  you  to  make  all  convenient  haste 
to  your  habitation  on  Long  Island,  and  by  the  waye 
as  you  pass  through  the  Countrey  and  when  you  come 
hither,  that  you  acquaint  such  as  you  tliinke  the 
Kings  Commission"  will  be  welcome  to,  and  are  af- 
fected for  his  Majestyes  Service,  that  some  of  us  are 
arrived  here,  &  shall  suddenly  bee  in  Long  Island 
where  they  hope  they  will  be  ready  as  in  other  places 
to  promote  his  Majestyes  interest,  their  readiness  & 
affection  shall  be  much  taken  notice  of,  and  your  care 
and  Incouragement  bee  acknowledged  by 
Your  very  lovinge  friends 

Robert  Carr. 

Samuel  Mavericke. 
Pascataway  July  23d,  1664. 

to  Mr.  John  Richbell,  there. 


III.  Tliompson'a  "HUt.  Long  bland." 
tVoI.  II.,  1». 

<II.  TbompioD'a  "  Luug  ItlitDd." 
<  Ant*,  pug*  76. 


A  warrant  under  the  same  hands  to  prcssc  a  horse 
for  Mr.  Richbell  if  occasion  should  bee,  hee  paying 
for  the  hire." » 

Four  years  before,  Charles  II.  had  constituted  a 
Council  in  England,  to  which  he  committed  the  care 
of  the  Trade  with  the  Plantations  in  America.  It 
was  created  by  Royal  Patent  on  the  seventh  of  No- 
vember 1660.  This  "  Council  of  Trade  "  consisted 
of  the  Lord  High  Chancellor  Hyde,  the  Lord  Treas- 
urer of  England,  Thomas  Earl  of  Southampton, 
Monk  Duke  of  Albemarle,  eleven  other  peers  and 
Nobles,  twenty-three  Baronets  and  Knights,  and 
twenty  five  "  Merchants,"  together  sixty  two  persons 
all  mentioned  by  :iame  in  the  Patent  itself.  Amon^ 
the  "Merchants"  was  included  Robert  Richbell,  the 
brother  of  John.  As  this  "Council  of  Trade"  em- 
braced the  leading  public  men  in  England  at  that 
day,  with  the  noble  at  its  head  who  four  years  later 
drew  the  King's  Patent  to  his  brother  James  for  New 
York,  it  is  almost  certain  that  John  Richbell  had 
some  prior  intimation,  from  his  brother,  a  member  ol 
the  same  Council,  of  the  expedition  intended  for  the 
capture  of  that  Province  from  the  Dutch,  and  the 
persons  who  were  to  be  at  the  head  of  it.  Hence, 
his  presence  in  Boston  before  its  arrival,  and  if  neither 
Carr  nor  Mavericke,  the  latter  of  whimi  had  been  in 
America  before,  knew  John  Richbell  personally,  they 
undoubtedly  had  been  informed  beforehand  where 
he  was  to  be  addressed  and  what  his  sentiments  were, 
or  they  could  not  have  written  him  the  above  letter. 

It  is  apparent  that  Richbell  was  a  man  of  a  better 
position  than  the  ordinary  class  of  Englishmen  then 
in  America,  at  the  time  he  made  his  purchase  of  lands 
at  Mamaroneck  in  1661.  His  purchase  of  Lloyd's 
Neck  was  in  September  1660.  A  year  later  on  Septem- 
ber 23d  1661  he  bought  his  lands  at  Mamaroneck,  and 
received  from  its  Siwanoy  Indian  proprietors  Wap- 
paquewam  and  Mahatahan,  their  "  Indian  Deed " 
for  them  dated  on  that  day. 

An  attempt  by  another  Englishman,  also  a  mer- 
chant of  Barbadoes,  and  resident  of  Oyster  Bay,  who 
seemsto  have  been  either  a  business  rival,  or  a  personal 
opponent  of  Richbell,  to  outwit  him  and  the  Indians 
has  singularly  enough  been  the  means  of  preserving 
for  us  a  perfect  history  of  the  original  purchase  of 
Mamaroneck  in  all  its  details.  This  man  was  one 
Thomas  Revell  "  merchant  of  Oyster  Bay."  Finding 
that  Richbell  had  obtained  the  Mamaroneck  lands  in 
September  1661  Revell  undertook  in  October  of 
the  same  year  to  buy  the  same  lands  or  a  part  of 
them,  from  some  other  Indians,  including  Wappaque- 
wam  however,  for  an  increased  price.  Richbell  after 
getting  his  deed  of  the  23d  of  September  1661  applied 
to  the  Dutch  Government  at  New  Amsterdam  for  a 
"Ground  Brief,"  and  subsequently  a  "  Transport,"  as 
the  Dutch  License  to  purchase  Indian  lands,  and  the 
Patent  for  them,  were  respectively  termed.    Governor 

•  ntgoi.  Hilt.,  66. 


MAMAUONECK. 


Stuyveaant  and  his  Council  thereupon  had  the  pur- 
chase as  well  as  Revell's  claim  thoroughly  investi- 
gated and  testimony  taken, and  after  full  deliberation 
decided  in  Richbell's  favor  and  issued  to  him  both 
the  "  Ground  Brief  "  and  the  "  Transport."  Aaer  the 
English  conquest  and  the  order  directing  the  confir- 
mation of  the  Dutch  grants  to  their  proprietors  and 
before  his  English  Patent  of  the  ItJth  of  October,  1668, 
was  obtained,  Richbell  recorded  these  instrument 3, 
and  he  also  had  recorded  the  evidence  taken  bef»;re 
the  Dutch  Council,  his  Indian  deed  of  June  6,  1666, 
confirming  that  of  1661,  and  an  aifldavit  of  another 
witness  of  the  original  purchase  sworn  to  in  1665. 

These  documents  in  full  arc  as  follows,  and  they 
give  us  a  very  lively  picture  of  the  men  and  matters, 
at  Mamaroneck  and  at  Manussing  Island  both  whites 
and  Indians,  in  the  autumn  of  1661. ' 

Immediately  after  these  curious  papers  will  be 
found  the  Indian  Deed  to  Thomas  Revell,  and  the 
Indian  Power  of  Attorney  by  which  he  tried  to  defeat 
Richbell.  These  papers  Revell  had  recorded  in  the 
records  of  the  Town  of  Southampton  upon  Long  Island 
December  23d,  1661,  probably  as  a  means  of  strength- 
ening his  claim.  Thus  we  have  a  documentary  his- 
tory of  both  sides  of  this  contest  for  the  beau- 
tiful lands  of  Mamaroneck  in  the  reign  of  Charles  the 
Second. 

INDIAN  DEED  TO  JOHN    RICHBELL. 

Recorded  Mar:  13CA  1666  for  Mr  Richbell. 
(Liber  Two  of  Deeds  192-199,  Albany). 

1.  Mammaranock,  y"  23d  Sept.  1661. 

Know  all  Men  by  these  pres".  That  I  Wappaque- 
wani  Right  owner  &  Proprietor  of  part  of  this  Land, 
doe  by  order  of  my  brother  who  is  another  Proprie- 
tor &  by  consent  of  the  other  Indyans  doe  this  day, 
sell,  Lett  &  make  over,  from  mee  my  heyres  as- 
sigues  for  ever  unto  John  Richbell  of  oyster 
bay  his  heyres  &  assignes  for  ever  three  necks  of 
Land.  The  Eastermost  is  called  Mammarsinock 
Neck,  and  the  Westermost  is  bounded  with  M'  Pells 
purchase :  Therefore  know  all  Men  whom  these  pres- 
ents concerne  that  I  Wappaquewam,  doe  this  day 
alienate  &  estrange  from  niec,  my  heircs  &  assignes 
for  ever  unto  John  Richbell  his  heyres  &  assignes  for 
ever,  these  three  necks  of  Land  with  all  the  Mea- 
dowes  Rivers  &  Islands  thereunto  belonging,  also 
the  sd.  Richbell  or  his  assignes  may  freely  feed  Cat- 
tle or  cutt  timber  twenty  miles  Northward  from  the 
marked  Trees  of  the  Necks,  ffor  «fc  in  consideracon 
the  sd.  Richbell  is  to  give  or  deliver  unto  the  afore- 
named Wappaquewam  the  goods  here  under  men- 
tioned, the  one  hulfe  about  a  moneth  after  the  date 
hereof,  and  the  other  halfe  the  next  Spring  following. 
As  the  Interpreters  can  testify,  &  for  the  true  per- 


>  The  doings  of  the  parties  at  Manuanlng  lelHOd  in  thif  matter  art 
it  if)  believed  the  earliest  actions  in  which  its  settlers  took  part  outaida 
of  tbenuelTse,  that  are  now  known. 


formance  hereof  I  Wappaquewam  doe  acknowledge 

to  have  rec"*' two  shirts  &  ten  shillings  in  wampum 

the  day  &  date  above  written, 

Twenty  two  Coates 

one  hundred  fathom  of  wampom 

Twelve  shirttt 

Ten  paire  of  Stockings 

Twenty  hands  of  powder 

Twelve  barrs  of  Leid 

Two  firelockes 

flifteene  Hoes 

ffifteene  Hatchets 

Three  Kettles  " 

John  Finch's  affidavit. 

2.  The  deposition  of  John  P'inch  &.  Edward  Qritten 
both  of  Oyster  bay. 

These  deponents  testify  &  affirme.  That  they  being 
at  Peter  Disbroes  Island '  (being  to  the  westward  of 
Greenewich)  the  23''  day  of  September  last  past  & 
being  there  employed  by  me  John  Richbell  for  to  In- 
terpret betwixt  the  said  Mr.  Richbell  &  the  Indyans 
(mentioned  in  this  writing  annext)  about  the  pur- 
chase of  three  Necks  of  Land.  The  said  deponents 
doe  both  of  them  atfirmc,  that  this  herein  written  was 
a  true  and  reall  bargaine,  made  the  day  above  s''.  be- 
twixt the  said  Mr.  John  Richbell  &  the  said  Indyans, 
&  the  Condicons  thereof. 

Taken  before  mee 

John  Heickes 

Hempsteed  this  20th  of  December  1661. 
Peter  Disbrmv's  affidavit. 
"  The  Deposicon  of  Peter  Disbroe  of  Monussing  Is- 
land ffitates  su£e  30th. 

3.  The  s*"  deponent  upon  oath  Testifieth,  that  Mr. 
Richbell  &c  went  to  Mr.  Revell  (then  on  the  Island 
afores'')  &  warned  Mr.  Revell  not  to  buy  the  Land 
beyond  Mammaraneck  River  of  the  Indyans,  for  that 
(hee  said)  hee  had  bought  it  already :  At  that  time 
Wappaquewam  came  to  my  house  Mr.  Richbell  and 
John  iRnch  being  there  also,  the  said  Wappaquewam 
said  hee  was  the  owner  of  the  Land,  &  did  in  my 
hearing  owne  that  hee  had  sold  the  land  to  Mr. 
Richbell,  but  the  other  Indyans  over  persuaded  him 
to  sell  it  to  Mr.  Revell,  because  hee  would  give  a  great 
deale  more ;  The  said  Wappaquewam  did  also  owne 
that  hee  had  rec'd  part  of  pay  for  the  Land,  of  Mr. 
Richbell  &  John  flinch  :  This  to  my  best  understand- 
ing was  y*  Indyans  speech  unto  them ;  Also  at  the 
same  time  the  said  Indian  Wappaquewam  did  ver- 
bally o.ffer  unto  Mr.  Richbell  the  Pay  that  hee  had 
rec'd  in  part  for  the  sd  Land.  But  Mr.  Richbell  re- 
fused, saying  hee  would  not  receive  it,  but  according 
to  bargaine  hee  would  have  the  land  &  pay  him  (the 
sd  Indian)  his  pay :  Moreover  the  said  deponent  saith 
that  Mr.  Revell  being  at  his  house  (before  the  former 
discourse)  that  hee  the  said  deponent  did  tell  Mr. 

'  Peter  Oisbro  or  Disbrough,  was  the  leading  man  «f  tha  OraaDwieli 
pwpl*  who  Dnt  Mttlad  Manniwslng  Iiland. 


MAJVIAHONECK. 


Revell  that  the  Land  whs  af^reed  for  by  John  Finch, 
&,  some  part  of  the  pay  paid.     Tiiis  deposed  unto  the 


12"' of 


M  61 
1=62 


Before  uit 


Kichard  Laws 
Francis  Bell 


Affidavit  of   William  Joanen. 

4.  The  depos'con  of  William  Joaues  of  Monusaiiig 
iHland  about  22  years  of  age, 

The  ad  Deponent  upon  oath  testitieth,  ThatThouias 
Close  &  himselfe  be:ng  mates,  the  said  Close  having 
beene  at  oyster  bay  upon  his  returne  to  Monussing 
aforesd,  did  tell  hin\  that  when  bee  was  at  oyster  hay, 
That  John  ffinch  niid  Henry  Disbroe  of  oyster  bay 
did  tell  him,  that  John  flinch  &  M'  Riehbell  had 
agreed  to  purchase  the  land  at  Mammaranock  River, 
&  desired  him  not  to  discover  what  hee  had  told 
them,  for  that  hee  had  promised  them  to  keepe 
silence,  &  it'  it  should  bee  knowne  that  hee  had  told 
him  (the  said  Joanes)  hee  should  then  bee  counted  a 
Trayto',  this  was  about  September  1661  :  Severall 
moneths  after  M'  Riehbell  &  John  flinch  &  Edward 
Griffin  being  at  Mamaranucke  River  &  they  waiting 
for  the  Indyans  coming  to  them  to  receive  that  part 
of  the  pay  for  the  land  as  was  agreed  there  to  bee 
paid,  &  M'  Riehbell  had  then  by  him  ;  They  want- 
ing bread  sent  for  some  to  the  Island  Monussing, 
wherefore  the  sd  deponent  came  and  carryed  them 
some :  when  to  the  land  he  came  M'  Riehbell  had 
there  sett  up  a  Shedd  to  shelter  from  the  weather,  & 
took  possession  there.  Staying  for  y"  Indians  to  receive 
the  pay  as  was  promised.  M'  Revell  being  then  at 
Monussing,  &  hearing  that  M^  Revell  came  to  buy  the 
land,  did  tell  M' Riehbell  what  hee  had  heard  :  Where- 
fore M'  Riehbell  &  John  flinch  &  myselfe  came  to 
Monussing  M'  Riehbell  saying  that  hee  would  pur- 
posely goe  to  forewarne  M'  Revell  not  to  buy  the 
land,  being  hee  had  already  agreed  for  the  same: 
When  to  Monussing  they  came,  there  was  some  of  the 
Indyans  that  had  sold  y°  land  viz':  Cakoe  &  Wappa- 
quewam,  who  would  have  secretly  gone  away  (as  they 
judged)  but  that,  John  flinch  spyeing  of  them,  called 
them  againe,  saying  to  them,  are  you  ashamed  of 
what  you  are  doeing :  Then  at  Peter  Disbroe's  house 
the  said  Cakoe  &  Wappaquewam  did  tender  to  M' 
Riehbell  &  John  flinch  the  pay  againe  which  they 
had  rec*  in  part  of  payment  for  the  Land,  but  they 
refused.  John  flJnch  &  M'  Riehbell  saying  to  them 
that  they  would  stand  to  y'  bargaine  that  they  had 
made:  The  said  Wappaquewam  did  there  fully  owne 
that  he  had  sold  the  Land  to  M'  Riehbell  &  John 
ffinch:  Stamford  Apr.  5'"  1662.     given  before  me 


Rich  :  Lawes. 


The  originall  was  Intcrlin'd 
before  deposed  (unto)  in  the 
28*  line,  (And  M'  Riehbell) 
In  the  13*  line  (Monussing), 


Affidavit  of  John  Fliwh. 

I't.  The  deposition  of  John  flinch  of  oyster  bay  &  also 
Edward  Griffin. 

The  sd  deponents  upon  oath  testifye,  M'  John 
Riehbell  Merchant  of  ( )yster  bay  did  buy  of  Wappa- 
quewam a  Certaine  Tract  of  land  lyeing  westward  of 
the  River  called  Mammaranock  River  &  bounded  by 
Land  purchased  by  Mr  Thomas  Pell  of  the  Indians. 
The  said  Wappacjuewam  being  entrusted  by  his 
brother  Mathetuson  '  formerly  called  Mohey  (as  the 
said  Wappaquewam  &  Mathetuson  did  enforme)  to 
sell  all  his  property  in  the  sd  Land,  &  himselfe  with 
Edw''  Griffin  accompanied  the  said  John  Riehbell 
unto  y"  h"  Indian  Wappaquewam  to  buy  the  »*  Lands, 
which  accordingly  hee  did,  &  pay*"  unto  the  s**  Wap- 
paquewam in  part  of  payment  for  the  purchase  of  the 
said  Lands,  Two  shirts  &  ten  shillings  in  wampom, 
and  agreed  upon  Time  for  the  payment  of  the  residue, 
according  to  a  writing  made  at  Momoronock  River, 
bearing  date  23''  of  Sept'  1661,  &  on  that  day  the  said 
Riehbell  tooke  possession  of  the  s**  Lands. 

In  &  upon  the  7*  day  of  March  1661,  The  s'' John 
Riehbell  employed  them  the  s'' deponents  &  one  Jacob 
Young  a  Sweed  (which  are  Indian  Interpret.")  to  goe 
with  him  to  the  Indyans  to  talke  w"*  them,  Hee  the 
8*  Riehbell  hearing  a  Report  that  y"  s*  Indian  Wap- 
paquewam had  afterwards  sold  the  s''  lands  to  M' 
Revell,  &  in  our  voyage  to  speake  w""  Wappaquewam 
we  mett  with  his  brother  Mathetuiton  alias  Mohey 
afores'',  who  did  fully  manifest  unto  us  that 
hee  (acccording  to  his  brothers  luformacon), 
did  emi)loy  &  give  power  to  his  brother  Wap- 
paquewam to  sell  his  propriety  of  Land  to  Mr  Rich 
bell,  whom  Wappaquewam  enformed  him  would 
buy  it  of  him,  &  withall  did  relate  to  us  sev- 
erall of  the  particulars  that  the  said  John  Rich- 
bell  by  agreement  was  to  pay  for  the  s*  Lands : 
Moreover  the  s*  Mathetuson  seemed  to  bee  much 
disturbed  in  his  mind  That  any  Contract  was  made 
with  any  other  for  y'  said  Lands,  hee  affirming  that 
hee  knew  not  that  any  other  than  John  Riehbell  had 
made  any  contract  about  it,  untill  hee  came  down  to 
the  Sea  Coast.  Wherefore  Mr  John  Riehbell  did  tell 
the  s''  Mathetuson  that  he  was  now  come  to  settle  & 
plant  the  same, — And  the  said  Mathetuson  did  give 
him  free  liberty  to  the  same,  onely  desiring  M' 
Riehbell  that  hee  might  be  payd  for  it,  &  not  tu  loose 
his  pay  for  a  neck  &  halfe  of  land,  which  he  was  yet 
unpaid  for : 

To  the  former  part  were  deposed  John  ffinch  & 
Edward  Griffin  the  11th  of  y'  1"  moneth  U 
Before  mee 

Rich:  Lawes. 

To  the  latter  part  the  s''  John  ffinch  &  Edw*  Griffin 
&  also  Jacob  Young  have  deposed  this  ll*  ^  ,j 
Before  mee 

Richard  Lawes. 


>  This  affidavit  Is  the  ouly  paper  where  this  name  is  so  speiled.    In  ull 
other  iustruiuent«  it  is  spelled  "  Mahatahan." 


6 


MAMARONE(!K. 


Affidavit  of  Jimathtm  I/ickwond. 

t).  TheTestinionyof  Jonutliaii  Loi'kwood  beiiigaged 
30  years  or  therealx/Ut. 

Saith.I  being  at  peter  D:.Hbroe8,&  M'  Thuiiiat*  Kov- 
ell  being  there  present,  I  hearu  M'.  Revell  sayhec  wan 
buying  a  pari-oU  of  Land  of  tlie  Indyans  of  tlie  West 
side  of  Mammaranoi'k  River  to  M'  Fells  Ihnd  k  I 
wisht  him  not  to  medle  with  it,  for  it  wr.<  nlready 
bought  by  M'  Richbell  &  I  was  a  wittnesse  to  it,  I 
saw  a  part  of  the  moneys  pay''  for  it  by  M'  Richbell — 
M'  Revell  made  this  answer  to  inee,  that  howsoever 
hee  would  buy  it  &  M'  Richbell  &  he  would  try  for  it 
afterwards ;  tfarthcr  this  deponent  saith  not.  Given 
in  upon  oath  before  mee,  Stamford  Apr.  4"'  1665. 

Rich  Lawes 
Taken  out  of  the  Records  &  compared  therewith  this 
23d  of  August  1665 

p.  me  John  Allyn,  Recorder 

INOIAK    DEED    OR    CERTIFICATE    OF    CONFIR.MATION 
TO  JOHN    RICHBELL. 

Recorded  for  Mr.  John  Richbell,  the  6*  day  of  June 
1666,  this  Indyan  Deed.  I  Wappaquewam,  together 
with  my  Brother  Mahatahan,  being  the  right  owners 
of  three  Necks  of  Land,  lying  and  being  Bounded  on 
y*  East  side  with  Mamaranock  River,  and  on  y*  west 
side  with  the  Stony  River,  which  parts  the  said  Land, 
and  Mr.  Pells  Purchase,  Now  These  are  to  Sertify  to 
all  and  every  one  whom  it  may  concerne.  That  I 
Wappaquewum,  did  for  myselfe,  and  in  the  behalfe  of 
my  above  said  Brother  Mahatahan,  firmly  Bargaine 
&  Sell  to  M'  John  Richbell  of  Oyster  Bay,  to  him 
and  his  Heires  forever,  the  above  mentioned  three 
Necks  of  Land,  together  with  all  other  Priviledges 
there  unto  belonging.  Six  weeks  before  I  sold  it  to 
M'  Tho  Revell,  And  did  mark  out  the  Bounds,  and 
give  M'  Richbell  possession  of  the  said  Land,  and 
did  receive  part  of  my  pay  then  in  hand,  as  Witness 
my  hand 

The  mark  0  of  Wappaquewum  ' 

Wittness 
Jacob  Yough 
Catharine  Yough," 

The  next  papers  are  those  Thomas  Revell  obtained 
from  several  Indians,  after  John  Richbell's  Purchase, 
upon  which  he  based  his  claim. 

COCKOO'S   DEEK  TO    REVELL. 

"  Be  it  known  unto  all  Christian  peo|)le,  Ingians  & 
others  whom  it  may  concern  that  I  Cockoo'  Sagamore 
do  Ijy  vertue  of  a  full  and  absolute  power  &  order  un- 
to me  given  &  intrusted  by  Maharaequeet  Sagamore 
&  Meamekett  Sagamore  &  Mamamettchoack  &  Capt 
Wappequairan '  all  Ingines  living  up  Hudson  River 


1  Rocoraed  in  Liber  Two  of  Deeda,  at  p*ge  128,  Sec.  of  SUte'a  off., 
Albany. 
3Jd  aome  |iapen  uf  tliat  day  tbla  name  appears  aa  "  Cakoe," 
)  Uaant  for  Wappaquawam. 


on  the  Maine  land,  for  me  to  bargaine  St  absolutely 
to  sell  unto  Tho  Revell  his  Hiiyres  Kxect"  Adniinis- 
trato"  &  Assigns  have  or  any  of  them  have  in  one 
tract  of  land  on  ye  Main  being  bounded  by  ye  sea  on 
the  south  /est  and  at  the  oust  of  Maramack  River  and 
at  ye  west  with  Mamgapes  River,  with  two  necks  of 
land  and  meadow  &  planting  hind,  the  necks  of  lai  d 
called  by  the  Ingins  Caywaywest*  &  Mamgapes  witli 
all  yt'  lands  Meines  and  niineralls  &  trees  to  cut  down 
at  ye  said  Revell**  itlea.sure  to  plant  with  all  right«  & 
priviliges  with  (two  words  here  illegible)  without  let 
or  niolestation  of  un  any  under  us  quietly  &  peaceably 
to  Injoy  ye  s''  land  reaching  one  and  a  half  miles  above 
Westchester  path  and  fr<)m  thence  twenty  englisli 
miles  to  the  Norward  into  the  County  for  grass  for 
teed  for  cattell  and  Timber  as  he  shall  have  occasion ; 
for  ye  lands  afforesaid  I  the  said  Cockoo  doe  confess 
to  have  received  now  in  hand  of  the  said  Thomiw  Rev- 
ell at  the  house  of  John  Coe  in  full  j)ayment  for  the 
aforesaid  tracts  of  land  in  severall  goods  to  the  just 
sum  of  Eighty  odd  pounds  sterling  for  the  said  lands 
with  all  reall  rights.  And  fardder  more  I  doe  prom- 
ise and  ingauge  my  self  in  the  behalf  of  the  fore  named 
Ingains  &  ye  re.st  of  those  Ingains  which  I  now  sell 
this  l<ind  for  and  them  to  bring  suddenly  after  ye  date 
hereof  for  to  give  unto  Thomas  Revels  or  his  order 
quiet  and  peaceable  possession  to  him  and  his  Heyres. 
And  peaceably  to  keep  and  defend  against  all  Dutch 
and  English  that  shall  molest  him,  in  witness  whereof 
have  ingaidged  and  confess  my  hand  Subscribed  this 
27""  Oct.  1661 

the  marke  -)-  of  Cockoo ' 
y*  marke    -f- 
of  Wappequairan 
Signed  and  delivered  in  the  presence  of  us 
John  Budd 
John  Coe 

Thomas  ilobe?  (close)  . 

Simon  Cooper 

Murl( 
Tho.   +  Stedwell 
Dec  2.3"  1661,  A  true  copy  per  me 

Henry  Pierson  Regis'. 

Indian    Power    of  Atforney   to    Vockoo    to    Convey 
'  Lands. 

Be  it  known  unto  all  Christian  people  In- 
gains ;-nd  others  whom  it  may  come  unto  that  we 
whose  names  are  hereunto  published  Mahameqeat  & 
Meamehet  Naskeway  all  Sagamores  with  vngoetaken 
Mamamettchauck,  Wachithe  Rawnottoy  with  Capt 
Wappaquewam  all  Ingains  living  up  Hudson  River 
&  else  where  in  America,  Doe  acknowledge  &  confess 
to  have  fully  &  absolutely  &  by  oath  of  our  free  & 
voulantary  Acts,  given  granted  full  &  absolute  power 
unto  our  friends  &  one  of  our  Coungell  Cockoo  by 


*  Tbla  la  aa  near  aa  tbia  word  can  be  made  out. 
i  The  aame  aa  "  Cakoe  "  above  menUoned. 


3> 


^yVtiP     or 

MAMARONECK 

Drawn-  fronv  Mmxucript  Map  fbtcnd.  in-  State.  Records 


otAlbamf  NY: 
maiein,179f. 


„^  theBnOtli:  crossing 

"^  ^ Jiea,vrrCrefk.  tdt^  > 


'■■tr     I 


i-  r 


MAMAKONECK. 


name  an  In^aine  the  which  wee  do  approve  of  and 
•loe  contirni  whuUoevcr  the  itnid  Cockoo  ithnll  doe  in 
harKiiiniriK  &  nellirifj;  iintn  Thim  Uovell   of  l<Hrliiidoi>M 
all  our  rv.n\  right  i"fe  interest  wcr  or  either  of  iin  have, 
our  tlayreii  Kxctrx  AdminlB'"  A  AoHiKnH  have  in  one 
trnel  of  liiiid  on  the  Muync  the  which  hath  two  neekw 
of  land  within  it  failed    C'ui|uanoHt    and    the    other 
Mamga|)oH.     Itoiinded  on  the  Houthwent  agaiuHt  I^ong 
Island  &  at  the  emt  with  Marramark    Itiver  &.  at  the 
weHt  with  Manigaiioii  Kiver,  and  i     ihe  north  one  and 
a  half  niilcH  if  noe  more  above   VVestchenter  pafli  for 
planting  ground  <%  it  is  lo  improve  at  thcitaid  llevelln 
pleiiMure  an  he  or  hiHxhall  «ee  good  with  the  Meddow 
grounds  &  other  groundH  TrceH,  Moyneti,  MinnerallH 
or  whatH  Hocver  hh  ItiverH  HpringH  within  Haid  boiindH 
of  aaid  trart  of  land.     As   allnoe  free  liberty  for  feed- 
ing for  all  eattell  horneM  &    Mayera  without    lett  to 
Rang  or  grase  &  trees  to  fall  and  carry  away  at  his  or 
any  of  his  Heirs  pleaMure  above  the  niarke<l  trees  for 
the  bounds  Twenty  F^nglish  miles  if  not    more    into 
the  Cuntry  northward  if  not  more  with  a  plot  of  the 
tracts  of  land  hereunto  annexed  and  allsoe  the  marked 
trees.     Now  whereas  wee  the  aforesaid  the  true  and 
well  proprietors  and  Honnors '  before  named  of  the 
tracts  of  land  wee  are  fully   contented    &   paid    and 
satisfied  that  our  friend  Cockoo  bath  bargained  and 
sould  the  aforesaid  tracts  of  land  with  all  the  bounds 
as  aforesaid  unto  tne  h''    Thomas    Revell    with    all 
things  standing  or  lying  thereon  for  himself,  Heyres, 
Kxct",  Admiiiistrat"  or  Assignei  freely  and  forever 
to  [>o«Bcs8  and  peaceably  injoy  and  keep  as  his  proper 
right  without  lett  or  hindrance  of  us  or   any  from  by 
or  under  uc      And    allsoe    we    the    aforesaid    true 
honnors  and  right  proprietors  of  the  said  land  Maha- 
meqeat      Meamehet     Naskeway     Sagamores     with 
vngoetaken  Maniametchouch    Wachithe   Ronnottoy 
and  Capt  \Va|)paquewam  wee  and    every    on    of  us 
joyntly  <Sr  severally  doe  allow  <fe  approve  of  what  our 
friend  Cockoo  hath  done  to  bee  fearme  sold   fast  and 
good  in  selling  the  said  land  to  Thomas  Revell.    And 
of  him  have  received  in  hand  full  satisfaction  &  to 
our  consent  for  the  said  land  in  personal  goods  to 
the  just  sum  of  ninety  pounds  sterling  to  the  use  of 
us    the    aforesaid    Ingaina.     Now     for    the     better 
Right    &    tittell     of   the  said    land    unto  the    said 
Revell    his    Heyres  Excf"   Administrat"  &  Assigns 
with     all    the     Proprietors     Rights    &    privileges 
Regard  or  whatsoever  else  is  just,  and  allsoe  wee  ye 
aforesaid  Ingains  do  freely  and  absolutely  assign  and 
make  over  all  our  rights  tittell  and  Interest  wee  had 
in  the  fore  mentioned  tract  of  land  as  appeareth  by 
this  our  Deed  and  fearme  bill  of  sail  that  we  now  give 
unto  the  said  Revell  and  his  reall  right  in  the  said 
land  before  Butting  and  Bounding  as  aforesaid.    And 
now  for  the  more  fearme  and  absolute  assurance  of  the 
said  tract  of  land  wee  do  jointly  and  severally  for  us 
and  ours  as  I  Mahameqeat  Meamehet  with  Naskeway 

'  Owuera. 


Sagamorei  with  Vngoetaken  Mamamettchoack  Warh 
ithe  Kownottoy  &  Capl.  Wappai|uewam  promise  and 
doe  ingoge  ourselves  unto  the  sairl  Revell  his  Heyrex 
&  Kxc'"  to  put  the  saidRevell  or  his  order  in  ipiietand 
peaceable  (HMisession  fi  him  so  to  keep  and  for  ever  (o 
injoy  a*  h Is  and  to  his  all  right,  .^nd  Allsoe  we  do 
further  promise  A  ingage  keepe  and  defend  ye  sd 
Revell  and  his  against  all  person  or  persons  thai 
shall  directly  or  indirectly  annoy  Molest  or  trouble  ye 
sd  Revell  or  his,  or  lay  any  daime  or  former  grant  of 
the  same  by  ye  Ingains  Dutchmen  or  Knglish  rir 
whomesoeverfrora  the  beginningof  the  world  unto  the 
day  of  Dat;  &,  forever  to  mayntaine  our  right  and 
tittle  unto  the  said  Revell  A  his  Heyres  Exct"  A 
.Vssigns  as  witness  our  hands  this  1 1  of  Novenib'  1661. 
Whereas  it  is  above  mentioned  the  land  for  plant- 
ing land  shall  run  one  &  a  half  miles  and  more  above 
Westchester  path.  All  of  us  above  Ingains  doe  freely 
allow  A  consent  unto  that  Revell  shall  have  his  line 
run  as  farre  above  Westchester  path  for  planting 
ground  into  the  (Jiintry  the  lull  length  as  is  from 
Westchester  path  to  the  bottom  of  the  Necks  to  the 
sea,  this  being  in  consideration  the  land  to  the  north 
east  is  not  fit  for  planting  ground  but  full  of  hills  and 
Rockey  Woods  above  Westchester  path.  This  we 
consent  unto  freely.  As  witness  our  hands  possession 
given 

In  the  presence  of  as    The  mark  of  -}-  Cockoo 
witnessess  Signed      y*markof-|- Maniamettchouch 
and    delivered   in      y'  mark  of  -|-  Wappaquaican 
presence  of  us  y  *  mark  of  +  Hayoro  Sagamore 

Simon  Cooper  y"  mark  of  +  Petowwahen 

Ttie  iimrk  uf 

Tho.  -f- Stedwell        y'niarkof-(- CauronsoroSarho 
Humphry  Hughes      y"  markof  +  WappomusSarho 
Thomas  i lobs' 
John  Coe 

The  mark  of 

Stephen  E  Champion 

A  true  Coppey  December  the  2.Sd  1661 

Pr  me  Henry  Pierson  Regist'. ' 

Of  the  litigation  which  grew  out  of  this  transaction 
we  have  the  following  account  in  the  nature  of  a  re- 
port of  the  evidence  produced,  taken  from  the  record 
at  Albany.  It  bears  no  date  but  was  probably  what 
took  place  before  the  English  Patent  was  issued  by 
Governor  Lovelace. 

"  An  account  of  what  part  was  acknowledged  be- 
fore ye  Governor  concerning  ye  Purchase  of  Mama- 
ronock,  by  Mr.  Richbell,  and  Mr.  Revell,  and  Jaus. 
Rockett,  Wappaqucem,  and  many  other  Indians, 

Present. 

Wappaqueem  saitli,  that  Mr.  Richbell  was  ye  first 
that  spake  to  him  about  ye  purchase  of  said  lands. 

'•i  This  mmiiit  for  Ttiuiiiai!  Clow. 

!*  For  tlifi  copies  of  tliis  Iiuliiin  ilryd  aad  Powrr  of  Attorney  ttie  wrtter 
Id  indebted  to  WiUiuni  S.  JVlIf  treau,  the  aide  e«lltur  of  the  three  volunien 
of  tho  "  Soiitbauipton  Reconltt."  The  map  referred  to  Ik  unfortunately 
such  ft  rough  and  mixed  up  scrawl  that  It  was  useless  to  reproduce  it. 


MAMARONECK. 


.larjH.  Rockrtt  iicknow|pfl(r«^  ye  like. 

WappHnuwtn  sHith  that  Thonmn  clotte  with  Cokoo 
ipake  to  him  tii  sett  hii*  liund  to  Mr.  Keveli's  deed 
■iid  he  dhoiild  have  h  coHte,  on  which  he  did  it. 

He  miitli  t'tirtiier  that  Mr.  Iliclibeil,  cttiiu'  and  view- 
ed :.  d  agreed  for  ye  land,  hut  not  l)rin)riiig  liin  ({imhIm 
tyme  enough  lie  Nold  it  to  Mr.  Rcvell.  He  eonfoHnes 
that  Mr.  Kichbell  gave  another  Imlian  a  coate  and 
some  Heawant  and  a  Hhirt,  to  marke  out  ye  trees  atler 
ye  agreement,  but  tliat  he  liad  notliing. 

.Vnotiier  Imlian  miith  that  Cockoe  and  ThoniaH 
Close  received  Mr.  Kevell'n  money  hetweene  them  and 
kept  it  themselve*,  for  yo  proprietors  hud  none  of  it. 

W8ppa<|ucem  wiith  that  what  he  received  from  Mr. 
Richliell  waM  by  way  of  (unintelligible)  but  not  in 
parte  of  payment. 

He  whose  land  it  was,  and  Wappaqueem  called 
brother,  but  were  not  natural  brothers. 

11th  Nov.  l*)fil,  the  power  entrusting  Wappaqueem 
and  Corkoo  to  sell  8th,  l()rtl,  the  date  of  ye  deed  which 
is  before  ye  power.  ' 

It  is  evident  from  this  that  Thoma»  Close  and 
Cockoo  were  very  sharp,  but  the  blunder  of  dating 
the  power  after  the  deed  to  Revell  ruined  their  cime. 

Riuhbell  continued  in  undisturbed  possesHion,  and 
no  claim  was  ever  at  any  time  afterward  set  up  under 
those  Indian  deeds  to  Thomas  Revell. 

On  the  lt)th  of  October  1(>()8,  the  Knglish  Patent 
from  Ooveinor  Francis  Lovelace  conlirming  and 
granting  to  John  Richbell  the  lands  privileges  and 
immunities  he  possessed  under  his  Dutch  grants  and 
Dutch  court  decisions  passed  the  seals  of  the  I'rov- 
ince. 

These  Instrunients,  Dutch  and  English,  having  been 
already  set  forth'fully  in  part  number  14  of  the  chapter 
on  Manors  relating  to  the  Manor  of  Scarsdale  in  this 
work  are  not  repeated  here.  The  de8cri])tion  of  the 
lauds  granted  in  Lovelace's  Patent  of  Confirmation  is  as 
follows: — "A  certain  parcel  of  land  within  this  gov- 
ernment, on  the  Maiu,  contained  in  three  Necks,  of 
which  the  easlermost  is  bounded  with  a  small  river 
called  Mamaranock  river,  being  almost  the  east  bounds 
or  limits  of  this  government  ujwn  the  main,  and  the 
westermost  with  the  gravelly  or  stony  brook  or  river 
which  makes  the  east  limits  of  the  land  known  by  the 
name  of  Mr.  Pell's  purchase.  Having  to  the  south 
the  8ound,  and  running  northward  from  the  marked 
trees  upon  the  said  Necks  twenty  miles  into  the 
woods  .  .  .  together  with  all  woods,  beaches,  mar- 
shes, pastures,  creeks,  waters,  lakes,  fishing,  hawking 
hunting  and  fowling,  and  all  other  profits  immuni- 
ties, and  emoluments  to  the  said  ]>arcel  or  tract  of 
land  belonging,  annexed,  or  appertaining,  with  their 
and  every  of  their  appurtenances,  and  every  part  and 
parcel  thereof." 

These  "  Three  Necks  "  were  called  the  "  East,"  the 
•Middle,"   and  the  "West"   Necks.     The  Middle 

>  Deed  book  III.  97,  Sec.  of  State's  otllce. 


'  Neck  was  sometimes  cm  Med  the  Great  Neck,  from  ita 
j  longer  extent  of  water       jit,  which  at  first  leil  to  the 
!  supposition  that  its  »•   .>  below  Westchester  Path  waa 
^  greater   than    that  of  the    F]ast    NecK.     "The    East 
I  Neck  "  extende<l  fro'  .  the  Mamaroneck  river  on  the 
'  east  to  a  small  stream  called  "  Pipin's  brook  "  on  the 
'  west,  which  divided  it  from  the  "  Middle  "  or  "Oreat " 
I  Neck,    and    is    the  same    which    now    crosses    the 
I  Boston  road  through   the   land,  and  just   east   of  the 
i  house  of  the  lute  Mr,  Oeorge  Vai.  lerburg.'   The  Mid- 
i  die    Neck   extended    from   the  latter    stream    west- 
ward to  a  much  larger  brook  called  "  Cedar  or  Grav- 
elly brook  "  which  is  the  (me  that  now  bounds  the 
land  belonging  to  Mr.  Meyer*  on  the  west. 

The  "  West  Neck  "  extended  from  the  latter  to 
another  small  brook  still  further  to  the  westward, 
termed  "Stoney  or  (Jravelly  Brook  "  which  was  the 
east  line  of  the  Manor  of  Pelham. 

Of  the  three  in  their  order.  The  East  Neck  from 
Mamarimeck  River  to  Pipin's  Brook,  upon  which 
Richbell  took  up  his  permanent  residence  about 
IfitiS,  as  near  as  can  now  be  ascertained,  was  called  by 
the  Indians  "  Mamaranock  Neck."  This  fact  is  so 
stated  in  the  Petition  of  Richbell  of  the  24th  of  De- 
cember Kifil,  for  a  "ground brief"  or  Dutch  license  to 
purchase  Indian  lands.*  A  misunderstanding  by  Mr. 
Robert  Itolton  of  the  word  "  Mummaranock"  in  the 
crabbed  writing  of  this  ancient  Document  as  recorded 
led  him  to  state  in  the  first  edition  of  his  History  of 
Westchester  County,  published  in  1848,  that  the  "  ab- 
original name  "  of  the  East  Neck  was  "  Wanmain- 
uck," '  and  the  error  has  appeared  in  the  second  edi- 
tion, "  and  it  has  been  hence  followed  by  other  writers. 
It  wasa  pure  mistake  in  deciphering  the  written  word. 
The  true  "  aboriginal  name  of  the  East  Neck  was" 
"  Mamaranock "  the  same  as  the  town  and  village 
bears  to-day  under  the  later  spelling  of  "  Mamaro- 
neck." That  portion  of  it  between  the  Harbour  on  the 
east  and  Pipin's  brook  and  the  salt  creek  into  which 
it  runs  on  the  west,  bears  the  name  of  "  De  Lancey's 
Neck  "  from  the  fact  that  it  has  been  possessed  us  a 
whole  for  more  than  a  century  and  until  a  few  years 
ago,  and  in  part  still  is  possessed,  by  the  family  of 
Gov.  .Tames  de  Lancey,  the  son-in-law  of  Col.  Caleb 
Heathcote,  the  purchaser  of  the  whole  East  Neck  in 
ltiS»7.  It  formed  the  largest  part  of  the  "demesne 
lands"  of  Colonel  Heathcote's  Manor  of  Scarsdale,  and 
as  such  was  held  by  his  widow  until  her  death  in  173H, 
when  an  undivideil  half  descended  to  her  daughter 
Mrs.  James  de  Lancey,  who  by  agreement  with  her 
brother-in-law  Ur.  Lewis  Johnston  of  New  Jersey 
continued  in  the  possession  and  control  of  the  other 
undivided  half  until  1774,  when  it  was  divided  in  the 

s  Kunni^rly  a  fKtrtioii  of  !ti«  wmttern  iwrt  of  the  farm  of   Mr.  IVtpr  .Ih>' 
Miinro,  and  lutur  owned  by  .fames  T.  Koosevelt. 
•The  old  ** Duncan"  or  *'  Danbeny  "  farm. 
*  Deeil'Ilook  iii.  :IT,  Sec.  Slate's  office,  Albany.     Anlt,  p.  I4.'i. 
»Vol.  1.  p.  282. 
«VoI.  i.  p.  «3.  "+*:    ' 


MAMAKONKCK. 


Fartitioa  (il'tliiil  yciir  ol'tlic  iititlividuil  portioniiot'the 
Manor  ol'  HciirHdiilit.  HiilM(>i|iifiitly  John  I'etur  ilu 
I^iinccy  till!  Hoii  of  Mnt.  l)c  I.anioy  who  had  HUccueded 
to  Monic  ol'  hiH  niothcr'H  hiiulM  |iur<'hiiMcd  all  the  rtiit 
ot'tho  landti  on  De  Lani'i'y'N  Nt-clc  from  hiH  brother, 
and  juiittcr,  and  couHitiM,  and  thiiH  became  the  owner  of 
the  whole  Ne<'k,  nearly  a  rentiiry  ago.  There  waH 
however  a  Bmall  piece  of  land  of  about  thirty  acrcM  on 
the  left  of  the  entrance  to  the  Neck  from  the  old 
WeiitclieHter  I'utii  or  old  ItoMton  Itoad,  which  never 
bclonKeil  to  the  Manor  of  Hcantdalu  nor  to  the  llealh- 
eote  or  de  Lancey  luniilieH.  Thin  piece  whm  given  on  ' 
the  8th  of  AugiiHt  1<>H4,  by  Mrti.  liichbell  jmtt  after 
her  hiiHband'H  death,  to  her  daughter  Mary  and  her 
husband  Cupt,  Jamcii  Mott,  and  wan  expretisly  re- 
Herved  in  her  deed  to  Colonel  [leathcote  of  all  the 
rent  of  her  ewtute  in  Manuironeck.  This  piece  from 
Mott'H  lieirH  piwsed  by  sale  through  varioUH  partieM 
and  about  a  century  ago  became  the  property  of  a  ven- 
erable (Quaker  long  well  known  in  Maniaroneck,CiileH 
Heaman.  At  his  death  in  the  settlement  of  his  estate 
it  was  bought  by  the  bite  Isaac  Hall,  and  by  him 
it  was  sold  to  the  enterprising  gentlennm  who  u])on  it 
erected  the  handsome  summer  hotel,  since  called  by 
histown  name — tht!  "  Kushmore,"  as  well  as  several 
handsome  private  residence,  now  owned  by  various 
parties. 

In  the  chapter  on  Manors  in  this  work,  part  14,' 
will  be  found  at  length  the  history  of  the  Eaat  Neck 
as  a  part  of  the  manor  of  Hcarsdale.  It  is  only  neces- 
sary here  to  give  an  outline.  John  Uichbell  died  on 
the  2tith  of  July  l(i84 '  leaving  his  widow  Ann,  and 
three  daughters  him  surviving.  His  wife's  mother, 
Margery  Parsons,  had  advanced  him  some  goods  in 
the  island  of  St.  Christopher's  in  the  West  Indies  long 
previous  to  his  ever  coming  to  Mamaroneck.  As 
soon  as  he  got  hi.-*  English  I'atent  of  the  l(Jth  of  Octo- 
ber ItitiS,  and  on  the  14th  of  the  ne.Kt  month  he 
deeded  the  entire  "  East  Neck"  to  her  in  considera- 
tion of  that  advance.  Mrs.  I'arsons  two  days  later, 
on  the  Kith  of  November  lti(i8,  in  consideration  of 
natural  love  conveyetl  the  East  Neck  to  her  daughter 
— Ann  the  wife  of  John  Uichbell  as  a  token  of  allcc- 
tion  and  dutiful  behaviour.  This  made  Mrs.  Rich- 
bell  the  owner  in  fee  of  the  entire  East  Neck.  But 
to  make  her  perfectly  secure,  Richbell  made  a  settle- 
ment of  it  by  way  of  jointure  in  her  favor,  by  a  deed 
in  Trust  to  John  Ryder  of  the  23d  of  April,  ItitiK,  in 
consideration  of  a  marriage  long  since  solemnized  be- 
tween them.'  He  died  as  above  stated  on  the  26th  of 
July  1684,  and  Mrs.  Ann  Richbell  thereupon  be- 
came vested  in  her  own  right  in  fee  in  the  entire  East 
Neck,  from  Mamaroneck  River  to  Pipin's  Brook  and 
twenty  miles  back  from  the  Sound  northward  into 

1  Ante,  147. 

<  WMt.  Co.  Keconla  Lib.  A,  p.  M. 

B  Ancient  copim  of  all  thoBo  dueds  in  the  writer*B  posMssion.     All  are 
recorded  In  West.  Cu.  Recurds,  except  that  from  Mra.  Parsons  to  Mrs. 
Kichbell. 
2 


the  woods.  Hho  continued  in  poMomion  nnttl  bjr 
deed  of  the  2<'id  of  December  \*>'M,  she  sold  her  entire 
estate  of  every  kind  and  nature  in  her  and  her  lat« 
husband's  landH  to  Colonel  Caleb  Hi>atheote  for  the 
sum  of  X)i<iO  Now  York  ('urrency  and  certain  other 
benolicial  provisions  recited  in  the  instrunit  nt.'  Theae 
lamls  and  some  others  adjoining  which  he  had  ac- 
i|uired  ('olonel  Hcathcote  had  erected  into  "the 
Lord.^hip  and  Manor  of  Hearsdale"  by  a  Maiior- 
<>rant  from  Lieutenant  (}overiior  Nanfan  then  at  the 
head  of  the  Province  iin  the  21st  .March,  I7I>1.*  Upon 
the  eminence  at  the  head  of  the  Harbour,  still  called 
Hcathcote  Hill."  he  built  a  large  double  brick  Manor 


i     I  l_ii_t'''iF: 


HEATHCOTi:  HILL. 

House  in  the  style  of  that  day  in  England,  with  all 
the  accompanying  offices  and  outbuildings,  including 
the  American  addition  of  negro  quarters  in  accord- 
ance with  the  laws,  habits,  and  customs  of  the  period. 
Here  he  lived  during  the  remainder  of  his  life,  which 
terminated  on  the  28lh  of  February  1720-21  in  his 
56th  year.  The  house  stood  till  some  six  or  seven 
years  before  the  American  Revolution,  occupied 
however,  only  by  tenants  after  the  death  of  his  widow 
in  1736.  Later  it  was  accidentally  destroyed  by  fire. 
The  present  double  frame  dwelling  standing  on  a 
portion  of  the  old  site,  of  which  a  cut  is  given,  wax 
built  in  1792  by  the  late  John  Peter  de  Lancey,  a 
grandson  of  Colonel  Hcathcote  who  had  succeeded 
to  the  property,  on  his  return  to  America  with  his 
family,  having  been  a  captain  in  the  British  Regular 
Army  in  which  he  had  been  placed  in  1771,  on  leav- 
ing Harrow  School,  after  a  short  period  at  the  Mili- 
tary School  of  (ireenwich.  Mr.  de  Lancey  lived  in 
this  house  till  his  death  in  1828.  In  it  were  born  all 
his  children  except  the  two  elder  ones,  and  amongst 


4  Bee.  Lib.  B,  .'JTl,  West.  fo.  Becords. 
»  Lib.  7,  p.  1U5,  Sec.  of  Stote'e  0flf». 

^  And  still  in  the  possession  of  the  writer  who  is  his  great,  great, 
grandson. 


16 


MAMA1U)NK(!K 


them  his  son  William  IFeathcote,  ihe  late  Bishop  of 
Western  New  York,  and  Susan  Augusta,  the  wife  of 
the  late  James  Fenimore  Cooper,  who  were  also  niar- 
ritid  in  it  on  the  Ist  of  January  1811. 

But  to  return,  Colonel  Heatheoto  had  succeeded, 
with  the  rest  of  the  property,  to  the  Richliell  proprie- 
tary rights  in  the  two  mile  hounds  of  Mamaroneek 
and  'le  suhsequcntly  t  his  Manor-Grant  jturchased 
in  addition  a  tweltlli  undivided  j)art  of  the  whole 
tract.  This  tract  had  been  set  apart  by  John  Kich- 
bell  in  his  life  time  about  tiio  year  KiTO  for  what  he 
called  "  allotments  or  house  lots,"  comparatively 
small  pieces  fronting  on  the  Westchester  Path  or  old 
roatl  to  Boston  eight  in  number  running  northwardly. 
One  he  reserved  for  his  own  house  lot,  and  he  and 
his  wife  seem  to  have  sold  only  two  or  three  others, 
the  first  was  a  gift  by  deed  to  one  John  Basset  in 
1069,  which  was  No.  four,  next  to  his  own  lot  No.  5. 
Another,  No.  one,  was  sold  to  one  Jeremy  Kannifl'e, 
and  Nos.  2  and  3  to  Robert  Pennoyor,  and  another  to 
James  Mott.  These  seem  to  have  been  all  that  were 
sold  up  to  1(J76  when  another  was  sold  to  Henry  Dis- 
brough  on  the  IGth  of  P'ebruary  in  that  year.  From 
the  language  of  ancient  co|iies  of  the  first  deed  to 
John  Basset,  and  tlut  to  Henry  Disbrough,  in  the 
writer's  possession  it  would  seem  that  these  "  allot- 
ments" were  twenty  and  a  half  rods  wide  front  on 
the  Westchester  Path,  and  the  same  in  the  rear,  by 
eighty  rods  on  each  side  in  depth  running  north- 
westerly. Each  was  subject  to  areservation  of  an  annu- 
al payment  of  one  bushel  of  winter  wheat  or  the  value 
thereof  on  the  Ist  of  March,  and  one  day's  work  at 
harvest  time,  to  the  Proprietor,  and  to  a  covenant  that 
they  could  not  be  sold  without  their  consent  and  ap- 
probation. To  each  lot  was  appendant  an  undivided 
eighth  right  to  commonage  and  pasture  in  the  two 
mile  bounds.  The  precise  extent  of  these  bounds  we 
know  from  the  Deed  to  Disbrough,  which  calls  them 
"  Mainniaroneck  limmits  "  and  describes  the  tract  as 
"  being  in  length  two  miles  and  in  Breadth  one  mile 
and  a  half  and  Twenty  eight  rods."  The  length  was 
from  the  Westchester  Path  northward,  and  the 
breadth  was  from  Mamaroneck  lliver  to  Dirty  t^wamp 
on  the  west.  "Dirty  8wam[)"  being  the  swampy 
ground  over  which  the  road  passed  near  and  east  of 
the  intersection  of  the  present  Weaver  Street.  The 
swamp  began  some  distance  north  of  the  Uoad  and  ex- 
tended across  it  to  the  salt  water,  a  little  stream  or 
ditch  ruuning  from  it  under  the  road  in  old  times 
through  a  stone  culvert,  sometimes  dignified  by  the 
name  of  "  Dirty  Swamp  Bridge." 

As  soon  as  Colonel  Heathcote  obtained  his  Manor- 
Grant,  and  about  two  months  thereafter  he  obtained, 
on  the  11th  of  June  1701,  from  the  two  Indian  chiefs 
of  the  neighborhood  Patthunk  and  Wapetuck  an  In- 
dian deed  of  confirmation  for  this  two  mile  tract  to 
himself  and  the  seven  other  persons  who  in  1701  were 
the  owners  of  these  "allottments  or  house"  or 
"  home  "  "  lotts."    There  were  himself,  Caleb  Heath- 


cote, Capt.  James  Mott,  William  Penoir,'  John  Wil- 
liams, Henry  Disbrough,  Alice  Hatfield,  .lohn  Dis- 
brough, and  Benjamin  Disbrough.'  This  was  to  sat- 
isfy all  persons  desirous  of  settling  in  Mamaroneck, 
that  there  would  be  no  difficulty  with  the  natives. 
About  five  years  later  Colonel  Heathcote  suggested  to 
the  owners  of  the  house  lots  that  instead  of  keeping 
all  the  rest  of  the  two  mile  bounds  as  undivided  prop- 
erty, that  they  should  have  it  laid  out  and  divided 
among  themselves  in  severalty.  It  was  talked  of, 
approved,  and  finally  carried  into  efi'ect  by  a  mutual 
agreement  under  seal,  made  and  executed  by  all  tho 
parties  on  the  liUh  of  February  170t)-7.  The  instru- 
ment accom])anied  by  a  well  executed  Map  of  the  lota 
as  laid  out,  into  eight  "Long  Lotts"  is  in  Colonel 
Heathcote's  handwriting,  and  bears  the  autographic 
signatures  of  himself  and  all  tlie  other  parties  above 
named.     It  is  in  these  words  ; — 

Mamoroncck  fleb.  y'  14'"  170()-7. 
The  tt'ree  holders  of  Mamoroneck  whose  names  are 
hereunder  written  have  mutually  and  unanimously 
agreed  for  dividing  the  Long  or  Upper  Lotts  in  said 
Township  as  followeth — No.  1  containing  20  chains 
broad  to  James  Mott,  No.  2  containing  21  chains,  and 
No.  ;{  coiitaining  22  chains  to  William  Penoir,  No.*  4 
containing  21  chains  to  Henry  Disbrow,  No.  5  con- 
taining 18  chains  to  John  Disbrow,  No.  6  containing 
20  chains  to  John  Bloodgood,  No.  7  containing  20 
chains  to  Peter  Hattfield,  and  No.  8  containing  all 
the  remainder  of  the  land  to  the  lliver  to  Caleb 
Heathcote,  reserving  out  of  the  said  Lotts  the  follow- 
ing Highways  for  the  use  ami  benefit  of  all  the  (free- 
holders and  Inhabitants  one  highway  to  be  five  Rods 
wide  in  the  tfront  of  the  said  l^otts,  one  highway  of 
four  Rods  wide  through  the  Sixth  Lott  into  the  Woods 
Leading  on  the  west  side  of  Nelson's  tfield  into  the 
Woods. 

Signed  sealed  and 
delivered  in  the  presence  of  ub 

Joseph  Purdy  Caleb  Heathcote  [l.s.] 

Thomas  White  'ii- 

Wm  X  Penoir     [i..8.] 

iimrk 

Jatues  Mott  ['•■•8.] 

Henry  Disbrow     [i,.8.] 
John  Disbrow      [l.s.] 
John  Bloodgood  [L.8.] 
Peter  Hattfield'  [l.s.] 
This  instrument  finally  closed  and  determined   for- 
ever all  tho  common  interests  in  the  lands  in  the  "  two 
mile  bounds"  of  Mamaroneiik  and  made  them  the  sep- 
arate ])rivate  property  in  fee  of  the  various  owners. 
To  this  there  is  apparent  exception.      The  five  rod 

>  So  In  the  deed.  Ho  wiu  a  son  of  Rulwrt  Ponoycr  the  original  Krau- 
too 

'  AncloMt  copy  in  wrltnr's  jKwmmlun,  R«e.  Mb,  C.  WeRt.  Co.  p.  ."ia. 

^  The  original  hiBtruniont  canio  Into  the  |>ofMofwlunnf  the  (.irllTen  Fam- 
ily who  purcliamiil  No.  li  fiimi  .lohu  UIoimIkouiI,  iind  now  bolonga  !•> 
Mr.  ChiirlM  Fielil  (iriiriMi  to  whom  I  am  Imli'Miul  for  ita  examination. 
A  fkcainille  uateni|K>mry  copy  la  in  my  own  iHwaegaiou, 


MAMARONECK. 


11 


Highway  they  left  at  the  8outh  end  of  tlieir  "  Great  ' 
Lottfl  "  or  "  Long  Lots  "  was  found  to  he  useless,  and  | 
the  owners  suhsequontly  divided  it  up  into  nine  small  I 
lots  of  about  10  ncrea  each  among  themBelvt>s  which 
ended  the  whole  matter.  These  "  Great  "  or  "  Long  "  ] 
Lots,  as  well  as  the  small  ones  are  all  shown  on  the 
Map  of  the  Manor  of  Scarsdale  in  this  volume.  They 
never  belonged  to  any  body  but  the  grantees  of  the 
eight  original  house  lots  to  which  they  were  append- 
ant and  appurtenant,  and  with  their  division   by  the 
owners  of  those  lots  among  themselves  all  their  com- 
mon  rights  ended,   and  the  "two   mile  bounds"  or 
"  Mamniaroneck  Limmits"  come  to  an   end  forever. 
The  Proprietary  rights  in  them  of  Colonel  Heathcote 
of  course  were  terminated  by  his  agreeing  to  their  di- 
vision in  fee. 

Of  the  owner  of  the  "  allottments  or  house  Lotts  "  as 
they  were  in  1701  the  descendants  of  none  except  of 
Colonel  Heathcote  are  now  in  possession  of  any  part 
of  them,  although  descendants  of  Hatttield  and  the 

■  53M  *v.,  .   .     . 


DISBKOW    IIOI'SE,   KKECTEI)   l(i77. 

Disbroughs  are  tftill  well  known  residents  and  prop- 
erty holders  in  other  parts  of  the  present  Town  ol 
Mamaroneck,  among  whom  is  Mr.  William  H.  Dis- 
brow  as  the  name  is  now  spelled,  the  Civil  Engineci 
whose  home  is  scarcely  a  niu.sket  shot  from  the  old  an- 
cestral house.  But  there  still  stands  upon  the  south- 
ern part  of  the  "  House  Lott  "  of  Henry  Disbrougii 
the  identical  house  he  built  there  in  1677  the  year 
after  he  was  deeded  the  lot  by  John  and  Ann  Kich- 
bell,  a  memento  of  the  earliest  days  of  Mamaroneck, 
of  the  old  family  who  built  it,  of  New  York  and 
Westchester  in  the  reign  of  Charles  the  Second,  and  of 
the  Duke  of  York  as  its  Lord  Proprietor.  It  renniined 
in  the  Disbrough  family  till  within  thirty  or  thirty- 
five  years,  and  is  now  the  property  of  the  widow  of  the 
late  well  known  Publisher  of  New  York,  Mr.  Stringer 
of  the  firm  of  Stringer  &  Townsend.  The  accompa- 
nying cut  gives  a  good  idea  of  it  but  it  is  a  rear  view, 
the  road  shown  in  it  and  now  existing  in  front  of  the 
house  not  having  been  opened  till  the  year  1800.  It 
faced  the  harbour,  the  side  toward  the  present  Union 
avenue,  which  at  this  place  is  built  upon  the  old 
Westchester  Path,  being  theorigiuul  frontof  the  house. 


It  is  built  of  rough  hewn  timber,  and  the  coarse 
stoneof  the  country  even  to  the  chimney  above  the 
roof.  The  siding  has  been  renewed  but  always  in  the 
old  style.  It  has  long  been  used  simply  as  a  store- 
house as  it  was  understood  when  it  passed  out  of  the 
Disbrough  family  that  it  should  never  be  pulled 
down.  Its  last  owners  of  the  name  were  two  maiden 
ladies  who,  a  few  years  before  their  deaths  built  in  the 
same  enclosure  the  present  new  and  good  frame  house, 
which  stnnds  almost  between  the  old  one  and  the 
waters  of  the  harbour.  The  old  house  has  well  borne 
it-4  200  years  but  in  the  course  of  things  can  not  last 
much  longer. 

The  "Middle  Neck"  or  the  "Great  Neck"  or 
•'  Munro's  Neck  "  as  it  was  styled  after  Mr.  Peter  Jay 
Munro  became  the  owner  of  nine-tenths  of  it  about 
the  year  17!K),  has  a  curious  history.  But  before  it  is 
given  it  may  be  better,  though  a  little  out  of  order, 
to  state  the  facts  more  fully  than  they  have  been 
mentioned  in  treating  of  the  Manor  of  Scarsdale,  re- 
garding the  Pell-Uichbell  controversy  about  the  West 
Neck.  Both  the  Middle  and  the  West  Necks  to- 
gether form  that  part  of  Uichbell's  land,  tiow  in  the 
town  of  Mamaroneck,  which  lay  almoit  wedge 
shaped  between  the  southern  parts  of  the  Manors  of 
Scarsdale  and  Pelham. 

The  West  Neck  extended  from  the  Cedar  Tree  or 
Gravelly  Brook,  (that  now  running  to  the  west  of 
Mr.  Meyer's  present  house,)  westward  to  another 
Brook,  which  was  that  which  crossed  the  Westchester 
Path  or  Uoad  just  west  of  the  i)re3ent  residence  of 
Mr.  Geo.  Stephenson, and  upon  which  for  years  stood 
a  mill,  for  a  very  long  time  a  snutf  mill.  This  brook 
bore  the  name  of  Stony  or  Gravelly  brook.  Mr.  Pell 
claimed  that  his  eastern  line  was  the  Cedar  Tree  or 
Gravelly  Brook,  that  now  by  the  present  Mr.  Meyer's  ; 
Mr.  Iliclil)ell  claimed  that  the  Stony  or  Gravelly 
lirook,  also  called  Cedar  or  Gravelly  Brook,  that  near 
Mr.  Stephenson's,  was  his  western  line  and  Pell's 
eastern  line.  The  controversy  was  a  very  hot  one  and 
grew  out  of  the  use  of  similar  designations  of  streams 
in  their  respective  Patents.  Aller  proceedings  in  the 
Court  of  Assizes,  and  before  the  Governorand  Council 
the  following  .\;::reenient  was  finally  entered  into  by 
both  parties;  "  Whereas  There  hath  been  a  .Matter  or 
cause  of  Difference  depending  between  Mr.  John 
Riclibell  and  Mr.  John  Pell  for  the  which  There  was 
an  order  Issued  forth  from  y°  (iovernor  for  a  tryall  by 
a  Special  Court  of  Assizes  yet  Notwithstanding  upon 
proposal  of  an  amicable  igreenu>iit  between  them, 
and  to  prevent  further  trouble  to  his  Honour  the 
(lovernour  and  the  Country  by  having  a  speciall 
Court,  it  is  this  Day  nuitually  consented  unto  and 
agreed  upon,  that  the  Neck  of  Land  and  meadow  be- 
tween Ceeder  or  (Iravelly  brooke  on  the  East,  and 
(iravelly  or  Stony  Creeke  on  y°  West  shall  be  layed 
out  by  y"  Surveyor  Generall  and  devi<leil  between 
them,  so  that  each  party  shall  have  Meadow  and  up- 
land eipiivalent  and  proportionable    Quantity  and 


a 


MAMARONECK. 


Quality  alike.  To  thia  agreement  both  partys  do 
joyntly  consent  in  token  of  Amity  and  Friendship  burl- 
ing in  oblivion  what  unkindness  hath  ibrmerly  past 
between  them  and  this  to  be  a  barr  to  all  future 
Claymes  or  pretences  that  can  or  may  be  made  on 
either  side  or  by  either  of  y'  heires  Executors  or  Ad- 
ministrators for  ever.  As  to  what  expense  or  charges 
Either  party  hath  been  at  Each  is  to  bear  his  own 
charges,  but  for  the  charges  of  the  Surveys  and  such 
other  Necessary  expenHcs  Kelating  to  the  Division  of 
y°  Lands  according  to  this  agreement  it  is  Equally  to 
be  Borne  betweene  them.  In  testimony  Whereof  the 
partyes  to  these  presents  have  Later  changeably  Sett 
to  their  hands  and  Seals  y°  22  Daye  of  January  in  the 
23*  year  of  his  Maj'  Keigiie  Annoq"  Dom.  1671 

John  Pell  (L  S)  > 

Sealed  and  Delivered  in  y"  presence  of 

Henry  Taylor 
Allard  Anthony 

Remains  (as  all  other  Lawful  Acts)  of  forces  and 
There  Surveyor  may  proceed  accordingly 

E.  Andros  " 

Though  thus  confirmed  by  the  above  order  of  Gov. 
Andros,  no  survey  was  made,  why  it  is  now  impossi- 
ble to  say,  until  the  22''  of  May  1G77,  when  it  was 
done  by  Robert  Ryder.  His  description  is  in  these 
words ; — 

Whereas  there  hath  been  a  difterence  between  John 
Richbell  and  Mr.  John  Pell  which  by  virtue  of  an 
order  from  the  right  Honourable  Major  Edmund  An- 
dross  Esq'.  Governor  General  of  New  York,  I  have 
made  a  division  of  the  within  mentioned  Neck  of 
Land  by  and  with  the  mutual  consent  of  both  par- 
ties, which  is  in  manner  and  Form  as  is  hereafter 
Expressed  viz'.  That  the  said  Richbell  shall  extend 
from  Cedar  Tree  Brook  or  Gravelly  Brook,  south 
westerly  fifty  degrees  to  a  certain  mark't  Tree,  lying 
above  the  now  Common  Road,  thirty  and  four  chains 
in  length,  mark  on  the  east  with  R.  and  on  the  West 
with  P.,  thence  Extending  South  Sixty  three  degrees 
East  by  certain  marked  Trees  p'fixed  Ending  by  a 
certain  piece  of  Meadow  at  the  salt  creek  which  Runs 
up  to  Cedar  Tree  Brook  or  Gravelly  Brook  Extend- 
ing from  the  first  marked  Trees  Nor  Nor  West  to 
Brunkes  River  by  certain  Trees  in  the  said  Line 
marked  upon  the  West  with  P.  and  upon  the  eaat  with 
R.  performed  the  twenty-second  day  of  May  1677. 
p  me  Robert  Ryder  Surv.^' 

The  Preceding  Survi  yor  above  mentioned  is  mu- 
tually consented  unto  by  the  above  mentioned  Mr. 
John  Richbell  and  Mr.  John  Pell  in  presence  of  us 

Thomas  Gibbs 
Walter  Webly 
John  Sharp 
Joseph  Carpenter '" 


>Thl«  Isfrom  an  ancient  Copy  of  the  document  tigned  by  Pell  that 
was  delivered  to  Uiohliell,  in  the  writer's  powewlon. 
«  Ancient  copy  in  the  writer's  po««e»)lon. 


Thus  was  settled  finally  the  line,  afterwards  of  much 
importance,  as  being  the  east  line  of  the  6000  acre 
tract  carved  out  of  Pelham  Mannor  and  sold  by  Pell 
to  Leisler  for  the  Huguenots  in  1689.  And  as  also  as 
taken  for  the  line  between  the  later  towns  of  New 
Rochelle  and  Mamaroneck  when  erected  in  1788  by 
the  State  Township  Act  of  that  year. 

We  now  recur  to  the  singular  history  of  the  Middle 
Neck. 

It  will  be  remembered  that  John  Richbell  pur- 
chased his  three  Necks  from  the  Indians  on  the  23* 
of  September  1661,  and  obtained  the  Dutch  Govern- 
ment's groundbrief  and  Transport  (or  'License  to  pur- 
chase' and  '  Patent ')  for  them  in  May  1662,  and  his 
English  Patent  for  them  on  October  16,  1668 ;  and 
that  the  East  Neck  alone  was  sold  by  his  widow  in 
1697  to  Colonel  Caleb  Heathcotc,  and  was  included 
by  him  in  his  Manor  of  Scarsdale  in  1701. 

Five  years  after  the  date  of  his  Patent  for  the  three 
Necks,  on  the  20""  of  November  1673,  Richbell  mort- 
gaged the  West  neck  to  Cornelius  Steenwyk,  a  rich 
burgomaster,  of  New  Orange,  as  New  York  was  called 
on  its  reconquest  by  the  Dutch  in  that  year,  and  a 
member  of  Governor  Colve's  Council,  by  the  follow- 
ing singular  instrument — one  of  the  few  Dutch  Mort- 
gages that  have  come  down  to  our  days ; 

"  Appeared  before  as  subscribed  Aldermen  of  the 
City  of  New  Orange,  the  honest  Mr.  John  Richbell, 
Inhabitant  of  the  place  Marraneck,  in  the  Main, 
within  this  province,  who  acknowledged  and  declared 
for  himself,  his  heirs  and  executors,  fully  and  duly  to 
be  indebted  Mr.  Cornelius  Steenwyck  Chief  Council' 
of  this  Province,  a  just  and  neat  sum  of  Two  thousand 
and  four  hundred  Guilders,  Wampum,*  being  occa- 
sioned by  and  from  delivered  Merchandizes,  disbursed 
Moneys,  or  otherwise,  by  him  the  said  John  Richbell, 
to  his  full  satisfaction  received  and  enjoyed  of  Mr. 
Cornelius  Steenwyck,  which  aforesaid  sum  of  2400  G. 
he  the  said  John  Richbell  by  these  acceptetly  and 
promiseth  to  pay,  or  cause  to  be  paid  to  Mr.  Steen- 
wyck aforesaid,  or  to  him,  that  should  or  might  ob- 
tain his  action  with  good  current  Wampum,  or  to  de- 
liver the  value  thereof  on  or  before  the  first  of  Octo- 
ber next  ensueing,  without  delay.  For  the  better  se- 
curity of  the  aforesaid  Mr.  Steenwyck,  in  the  full 
satisfaction  of  the  sum  aforesaid,  he  the  said  John 
Richbell  bindeth  and  engagcth  for  a  special  Mortgage 
and  a  Pledge  certain  of  his  the  said  John  Richbell's 
Neck  or  ^lice  of  Land  lying  upon  the  Main,  being 
the  most  Westerly  neck  of  liand  of  the  three,  to  him 
the  said  John  Richbell  in  lawful  Propriety  belonging, 
pursuant  to  certain  Patent  of  Governor  Lovelace, 
dated  16  October,  1668,  limiting  the  Neck  of  Land 
aforesaid,  upon  the  gravelly  or  Stony  Water  or  River, 
which  are  the  Easterly  Limits  of  Mr.  Pell's  Land, 
having  at  the  South  side  the  Hound,  and  runing  thua 

■  So  In  the  original,  it  means  "of  the  chief  council." 
*  The  shell  money  of  the  Indians, 


MAMARONECK. 


it 


from  the  Marked  trees,  standing  un  the  side'  Neck, 
North  Twenty  miles  into  the  Woods,  and  further  in 
Qeneral,  his  Person,  and  Goods  Moveable  and  im- 
moveable, none  excepted  or  reserved,  submitting  the 
same  to  all  Courts,  Laws,  and  Justices. 

In  witness  whereof  is  this  by  the  said  Mr.  John 
Richbell  benevolently  or  willing.'  The  Elsquires 
Aldermen  Gelyn  ver  Plank  and  Lawrence  Spiegel. 

In  the  Record  Books  of  this  Town.  Signed  in  New 
orange  20  9ber.'  1673."*  This  mortgage  only  covered 
the  West  Neck  as  settled  in  the  agreement  with  Pell 
above  mentioned. 

On  the  12""  May,  1675,  two  years  later,  a  mortgage 
was  made  by  John  Richbell  on  the  Middle  Neck 
alone,  in  consideration  of  "  £250  Boston  Silver  "  to 
Robert  Richbell  of  Southampton,  England  for  the 
term  of  99  years,  redeemable  at  any  time  in  the  term 
upon  the  payment  of  the  principal  and  interest.' 

The  very  next  year,  on  the  17  July  1676  Richbell 
made  still  another  mortgage  to  one  Thomas  Kellnnd 
of  Boston,  in  consideration  of  £100  New  England 
money,  upon  the  reversion  of  the  Middle  Neck  for  the 
term  of  99  years,  and  also  the  reversion  of  the  West 
Neck  for  99  years,  after  payment  of  the  £2500  to 
Robert  Richbell  and  the  2400  Guilders  to  Steenwyck. 

These  Richbell  Mortgages  on  the  Great  Neck  passed 
by  assignments  into  the  hands  of  Samuel  Palmer,  o< 
Mamaroneck ;  the  first  of  a  family  of  that  name  who 
have  been  closely  and  honourably  connected  with  Ma- 
maroneck from  that  day  to  this,  and  as  they  arc  still 
robust  and  numerous,  will  probablyso  continue  indefi- 
nitely for  the  future.  A  Palmer  was  elected  to  a  town 
office  at  the  first  recorded  election  i  .Mamaroneck 
in  1797,  and  a  Palmer  is  a  Justice  of  the  Peace  in  Ma- 
maroneck to-day. ' 

By  these  assignments  Samuel  Palmer  became  legal- 
ly entitled  to  the  remainder  of  the  term  of  bi)  years 
in  the  Middle  Neck,  and  by  his  will,  dated  March  18th, 
1712-13,  he  dsvised  all  his  right,  title  and  interest  in 
and  to  the  Middle  Neck  to  his  four  sons,  Nehemiah, 
Obadiah,  Sylvanus,  and  Solomon  Palmer.  They  con- 
tinued in  possession,  and  on  the  8th  of  February 
1722,  Edward  Richbell,  who  describes  himself  as  "of 
the  Parish  of  St.  James  in  the  County  of  Middlesex,' 
in  Great  Britain  hoir-at-law  of  John  Richbell  there- 
tofore of  Mamaroneck  in  the  Precincts  of  Westchester 
in  the  Government  of  New  York  (who  was  Eldest  son 
and  Heir  of  Edward  Richbell  late  of  the  City  of 
Westminister  Esq.  who  was  Eldest  son  and  Heir  of 
Robert  Richbell  of  Southampton  in  Great  Britain,  de- 
ceased, who  was  the  only  Brother  and  Heir  of  the 


iSo  In  thflurigliml,  it  nioaiiB  *'HHi(l/' 
*8o  in  Uie  original. 
»  Novemlier. 

<Froni  an  ancient  Engliali  tranriatlon  in  the  writer'!  poaMinlon. 
ft  Not  recorded,  copy  in  County's  poeaeHHiuii. 
•William  D.  Palmer,  1^. 

'Now  uaiially called  St.  .Tames's Piccadilly, tbough  its  legal  dseignation 
la  "St.  Jamae's,  WestmiuUter," 


said  John  Richbell ''  released,  in  consideration  of 
£380  sterling,  to  the  above  four  Palmers,  the  Rever- 
sion and  Equity  of  Redemption  in  the  Middle  Neck, 
and  all  his  right  title  and  interest  therein.  The  four 
Palmers  then  cimveyed  a  right  in  fee  in  that  Neck  to 
one  Josiah  Quinby. 

But,  the  Steenwyck  Mortgage  of  1673,  above  men- 
tioned, and  another  also  made  by  John  Richbell  to 
him  on  the  6th  of  July,  1678,  had  been  assigned  to 
Frederick  Philipse,  and  under  his  will  passed  to  his 
daughter  Eve,  the  wife  of  Jacobus  Van  Cortlandt  of 
Yonkers,  and  of  course  under  the  law  to  him.  These 
were  both  upon  the  West  Neck.  Both  Van  Cortlandt 
and  Adolph  Philipse  his  brother-in-law  were  Execu- 
tors of  Frederick  Philipse's  Will.  They  sent  to  Eng- 
land to  Edward  Richbell,  and  in  consideration  of  the 
cancelling  of  John  Richbell's  mortgages  and  of  £400 
sterling  in  addition,  he  by  Lease  and  Release  of  the 
12th  and  13th  of  August,  1723,  conveyed  to  them  all 
his  right  not  only  in  the  West  Neck,  but  in  all  the 
lands  possessed  by  John  Richbell,  except  what  he 
had  released  to  the  four  Palmers  above  mentioned. 
Philipse  and  Van  Cortlandt  claimed  that  all  the  land 
the  Palmers  were  entitled  to  under  their  deed  from 
Edward  Richbell  lay  between  the  Westchester  Path 
and  the  Sound,  and  that  they  by  their  later  convey- 
ance from  Edward  Richbell  were  entitled  to  all  be- 
tween the  Westchester  Path  northward  to  the  Bronx. 
This  claim  the  Palmers  met  by  filing  a  bill  in  Chancery 
against  Philipse  and  Vaii  Cortlandt  and  on  May  2, 
1729,  obtained  a  decree  that  the  Proprietors  of  the 
Middle  Neck  under  their  mortgages  and  their  Release 
from  Edward  Richbell,  were  entitled  to  have  the  Mid- 
dle or  Great  Neck  extended  as  far  Northward  as  the 
East  and  the  West  Neck  extended,  and  that  Philipse 
and  Van  Cortlandt  should  be  perpetually  enjoined 
from  making  any  claim  or  pretences  to  that  part  of 
the  Great  neck  south  and  east  of  the  Bronx  River. 

In  1731  an  action  between  James  De  Lancey  and 
wife  and  Mrs.  Martha  Heathcote  against  Josiah  Quin- 
by was  tried  at  Westchester  for  a  trespass  in  the  Ma- 
nor of  Scarsdale  committed  by  the  defendant.  The 
defendant  pleaded  that  the  premises  were  not  in  the 
Manor  of  Scarsdale,  but  in  the  Manor  of  Pelham,  and 
produced  Pell's  Patent.  The  agreement  between  Pell 
and  Richbell,  above  given,  for  dividing  the  land  be- 
tween Cedar  Tree  brook  and  Stony  or  Gravelly  brook 
was  then  produced  by  the  Plaintiffs,  and  the  jury 
found  a  verdict  for  the  piaintifl's  with  damages  and 
costs. 

A  great  question  arose  some  thirty  five  years  later 
in  relation  to  the  Middle  Neck  and  the  Manor  of 
Scarsdale.  Many  persons  had  become  interested  in 
the  former  both  as  purchasers  and  as  mortgagees.  The 
Palmers  had  early  sold  undivided  twelfth  parts  to 
various  persons,  among  others  "one  twelfth  and  a  half 
of  one  twelfth  "  were  sold  to  Robert  Livingston  July 
20*  1728.  The  purchasers  had  many  of  them  died 
and  lefl  numerous  heirs  and  among  these  was  Mr. 


14 


MAMARONECK. 


LivingBton.  There  wert)  heirs  of  iiiaiiy  others,  who 
in  the  same  way  had  become  possessed  of  interests 
larger  or  smaller  in  that  Neck.  The  Palmers  under 
the  erroneous  idea  that  the  division  line  between  the 
Middle  and  the  Eact  Neck  ran  due  north  and  not 
Northwestward  sold  some  three  or  four  farms  up- 
wards of  500  acres  altogether  to  one  Cornwall  who 
entered  thereon.  This  laud  was  within  the  Manor  of 
Scarsdale  and  a  jiatt  of  the  East  Neck.  Thereupon, 
the  purchaser  having  in  the  mean  time  died,  four 
ejectment  suits  were  begun  by  Anne  de  Lancey  and 
Lewis  Johnston  against  his  sons  Benjamin  Cornell 
(as  the  name  soon  began  to  be  spelled  and  pronounced) 
Joseph  Cornell,  Peter  Cornell,  and  John  Cornell. 
This  was  in  17(i4.  The  number  of  persons  who  found 
themselves  interested  was  so  great  as  to  greatly  delay 
the  proceedings.  The  question  was  where  was  the 
proper  starting  point  between  the  Necks  and  what 
the  true  direction  the  line  was  to  run.  Finally  it 
was  at  last  determined  by  all  parties  to  leave  the 
question  to  a  board  of  arbitrators.  But  so  delayed 
was  the  business  by  the  numbers  it  affected  that  the 
Articles  of  Agreement  to  arbitrate  were  not  executed 
till  the  21"  of  March  176i).  The  Parties  were,  "  Wil- 
liam, Earl  of  Stirling,  Peter  van  Brugh  Livingston, 
John  Stevens,  John  Reid,  Walter  Rutherford,  Robert 
R.  Livingston,  Gentlemen,  William  Smith  Jun'.,  Esq 
Thomas  Smith  Esq.  Joseph  Cornell,  John  Cornell, 
Benjamin  Cornell,  and  Sarah  Cornell,  E.xecutors  of 
Peter  Cornell,  Edward  Burling,  Benjaii.ln  Palmer, 
John  Palmer,  Yeomen,  Mary  Ashfield  Spinster,  Sarah 
Morris  as  widow  and  Richard  Morris  Esq',  William 
Smith  Jun',  Esq',  Surviving  Executors  of  Lewis  Mor- 
ris deceased,  James  Kinsey  of  Nc  Jersey,  and  John 
Thomas  jun'.  of  Westchester,  of  the  one  part,  and 
Anne  De  Lancey  widow  of  the  Honourable  James  De 
Lancey  Esq.  Deceased,  and  Lewis  Johnston  of  Perth 
Amboy  New  Jersey,  Physician  of  the  other  part."  ' 

The  Arbitrators  chosen  were  "  Samuel  Wyllys  of 
Jericho  Long  Island,  Gentleman,  Abraham  Clark  of 
Elizabethtown  New  Jersey,  Stephen  Crane  of  the 
same  place,  Gentlemen,  William  Nicoll  J',  of  Islip,  in 
Suffolk  County  Esq."  These  Parties  gave  bonds  in 
£5000  each  to  abide  by  the  award,  and  it  was  agreed 
that  each  side  should  bear  its  own  expenses,  except 
as  to  those  for  the  services  of  the  arbitrators  and 
the  running  of  the  line  in  accordance  with  the  award, 
of  which  each  side  was  to  pay  one  half.  The  point 
to  be  decided  as  stated  in  the  articles  of  agreement 
was  to  fix  the  true  point  near  and  below  Westchester 
Path  from  which  the  dividing  line  was  to  be  run  in  a 
North  Northwesterly  direction. 

The  hearings  were  long  and  much  evidence  locally 
interesting  was  brought  forward.  The  Counsel  were, 
for  Anne  de  Lancey  and  Lewis  Johnston,  Thomas 
Jones,  for  the  other  parties.  Whitehead  Hicks,  John 
Morin  Scott,  and  William  Smith  Jun',  all  but  Scott 


From  the  orlgloal  iaatrumeut  in  tha  writer's  poawMion. 


subsequently  Judges  of  the  Supreme  Court  of  the 
Province,  two,  Smith  Jun',  and  Jones,  were  the  two 
historians  of  the  Province.  Hicks  was  also  Mayor  of 
New  York,  and  John  Morin  Scott  was  one  of  the 
Generals  on  the  Whig  side  in  the  Revolution,  and  a 
lawyer  of  eminence.  The  award  was  unanimous  and 
the  operative  part  is  in  these  few  words,  "  we  do 
award,  order  judge,  and  determine,  that  the  place 
where  the  straight  line  of  partition  that  is  to  run  be- 
tween the  said  two  Necks  or  Tracts  of  Land  shall  begin 
in  the  middle  of  the  creek  or  run  of  water  leading  from 
Dirty  Swamp  where  the  said  Creek  or  Run  of  Water 
crosses  Westchester  old  Path."  All  the  original 
papers  in  this  transacticm  bearing  the  autographs 
of  all  the  distinguished  men  and  other  parties  men- 
tioned above  are  in  the  writer's  possession  in  perfect 
preservation  and  from  them  this  sketch  has  been 
drawn  up.  The  result  was  to  show  the  Cornell  farms 
were  in  the  Manor  of  Scarsdale  where  Colonel  Heath- 
cote  had  originally  laid  them  out,  except  in  one  in- 
stance where  the  line  went  througn  one  of  the 
houses,  which  threw  a  little  of  the  land  west  of  the 
line  and  on  the  Middle  Neck. 

The  Middle  Neck  continued  in  the  hands  of  several 
owners,  most  of  them  members  of  the  Palmer  family 
until  about  1790  when  Mr.  Peter  J.  Munro  who  a 
year  or  two  before  had  bought  the  original  Samuel 
Palmer  House  (now  pulled  down  and  which  stood 
back  and  a  little  to  one  side  of  the  two  enormous 
elms  now  standing  east  of,  and  near,  the  Larchmont 
Railroad  crossing  at  the  Boston  Road,  and  about  150 
feet  south  of  the  road  itself)  and  its  farm,  acquired  all 
the  other  lands  on  the  Neuk,  except  the  Scott  House 
and  the  mill  pond  on  the  extreme  western  extremity 
of  the  Neck,  and  became  the  owner  in  fee  simple 
of  the  whole.  In  his  possession  and  that  of  his 
family  it  remained  till  the  year  1845  when  the  part 
south  of  the  Boston  road,  with  the  great  house  he 
built  upon  it  was  sold  to  the  late  Mr.  Edward  K.  Col- 
lins. From  him  or  his  representatives  it  passed 
finally  into  the  hands  of  the  late  Mr.  Flint  and  his 
associates  who  upon  it  have  erected  the  beautiful 
summer  village  called  Larchmont. 

It  is  sometimes  styled  Larchmont  "  Manor"  bat  as 
this  sketch  shows  the  Neck  upon  which  it  is  situated 
never  was  either  a  Manor  or  part  of  a  Manor.  The 
Munro  farm  was  very  large  and  the  extent  of  the  part 
of  it  below  the  Boston  Road,  some  330  acres,  and  the 
large  Munro  House  now  the  chief  Hotel,  suggested 
the  idea  of  calling  it  a  "  Manor  "  to  the  first  or- 
ganizers of  the  enterprise  simply  to  give  it  prestige 
and  name.  No  pleasanter  place  can  be  found  near 
New  York  for  a  summer  home. 

The  origin  of  the  name  Larchmont  is  a  little  odd, 
as  neither  larches  nor  hills  are  indigenous  to  the 
Neck.  When  Mr.  Munro  built  his  house,  he  wished 
to  plant  a  quick  growing  grove  of  trees  along  the 
turnjjike  road  west  of  his  entrance.  His  Scotch 
gardener,  a  man  of  the  name  of  Rae,  suggested  the 


MAMAllONKCK. 


16 


lurches  of  his  native  land  as  they  grow  very  rapidly 
indeed,  and  oflered  to  send  to  his  relatives  in  Scot- 
land for  seed.  Mr.  Munro  assented,  the  seed  came, 
the  trees  were  planted,  and  answered  the  jmrpose  ad- 
mirably for  about  twenty  or  twenty  five  years,  then 
they  grew  scraggy,  began  to  die,  and  were  gradually 
removed,  the  last  of  them  during  Mr.  Collins'  owner- 
ship, by  whom  the  name  was  given  to  the  place  while 
it  was  his.  This  was  the  origin  of  the  Scutch  Larch 
in  Westchester  County,  neither  a  handsome,  nor 
long  lived  tree  and  not  an  acquisition  of  value.  The 
"  Mont  "  Mr.  Collins  evolved  from  his  own  conscious- 
ness, perhaps  because  the  larch  grows  chiefly  upon 
hills  in  itti  native  land. 

Larchmont  possesses  one  of  the  largest  and  most 
flourishing  yacht-clubs  in  the  country.  The  beauty 
and  accessibility  of  its  situation  and  the  wide  ap- 
proach to  its  shores  by  water  gives  it  very  great  ad- 
vantages, as  well  its  position  at  the  wide  opening  of 
the  western  end  of  Long  Island  Sound.  The  mem- 
bership is  about  400  and  is  increasing,  and  the  club 
house  on  the  water's  edge  is  a  fine  and  convenient 
building.  Long  Beach  Point  the  western  extremity 
of  De  Lancey's  Neck  extending  out  parallel  to  the 
shores  of  Larchmont  forms  a  cove  or  small  harbour, 
of  great  beauty  directly  in  front  of  the  village  it- 
self. 

That  part  of  the  Munro  farm  west  of  the  Turnpike 
was  bought  about  1840  by  the  late  Judge  James  I. 
Roosevelt,  who  arranged  the  Cottage  now  the  property 
of  the  family  of  the  late  Mr.  George  Vanderburg  for 
his  own  residence.  It  has  since  been  laid  out  in 
several  small  village  plots,  a  large  part  of  it  is  also 
owned  by  the  Proprietors  of  Larchmont,  through 
which  runs  the  surface  railway  to  tl:  Larchmont 
stationof  the  New  Haven  Railroad,  \Miich  is  upon 
this  property.  West  of  the  Railroad  but  invisible 
from  it  on  account  of  the  forest,  is  "  Hannah's  Peak," 
the  highest  point  on  the  Southeastern  shores  of  Long 
Island  Sound  and  one  of  the  stations  of  the  Coast 
Surtey.  In  its  neighborhood  can  also  be  seen  a  fine 
specimen  of  that  natural  curiosity,  the  Rocking 
Stone.  It  is  an  immense  boulder  so  accurately  poised 
that  it  can  be  moved  without  being  overthrown. 

The  part  of  the  East  Neck  which  early  in  the  last 
century  acquired  the  name  it  has  since  borne  of  "  de 
Lancey's  Neck,"  remained  continuously  in  that  family 
without  any  of  it  being  sold  until  1848  when  the 
late  Mr.  Thomas  James  de  Lancey  who  had  inher- 
ited the  western  part  of  it,  with  the  assent  of  his 
uncle  the  late  Rt.  Reverend  William  H.  de  Lancey 
who  had  inherited  the  eastern  part,  sold  his  por- 
tiofl  in  large  divisions  to  various  parties.  Its  splendid 
situation,  with  its  two  beaches  Long  Beach  and 
Scotch  Beach,  with  Ma'maroneck  Harbour  on  its  east 
side  and  De  Lancey's  Cove  on  its  west  side  marked 
it  out  as  a  place  for  the  fine  seats  and  marine  villas 
of  gentlemen,  with  which  its  entire  water  front  is 
now  covered.     The  roads  and  drives  upon  it,  and 


the  marine  and  inland  views  it  commands  are  very 
beautiful  and  extensive.  The  central  poiuun  is  dot- 
ted also  with  the  handsome  residences  of  gentlemen, 
and  on  the  high  ground  at  the  picturesque  entrance 
to  the  Neck  is  a  large  and  handsome  Hotel  in  the 
midst  of  large  grounds  handsomely  laid  out  through 
the  good  taste  and  enterprise  of  Mr.  Thomas  L.  Rush- 
more  the  gentleman  who  built  it  and  who  dwells  in 
the  neighbourhood  with  his  children  around  him, 
each  with  his  or  her  family  possessing  handsome 
places  of  their  own. 

Upon  Long  Beach  Point  on  the  west  extremity 
of  the  Neck  stands  the  splendid  home  of 'Mr.  Henry 
M.  Flagler.  This  point,  originally  with  a  splendid 
beach  on  each  side  of  it,  juts  into  the  Sound  from 
the  Body  of  the  Neck.  The  late  Mr.  John  Oreacen 
bought  it  of  Mr.  Thomas  J.  de  Lancey,  and  built 
a  large  double  brick  house,  now  a  part  of  Mr.  Flag- 
ler's magnificent  mansion,  at  the  western  end  of 
this  unique  situation,  and  surrounded  the  [loiiit  with 
a  huge  wide  stone  sea  wall  upon  the  top  of  which  he 
laid  out  a  drive,  which  is  without  a  rival  of  its  kind 
on  the  American  sea  coast.  The  Neck  itself  is  the 
"  Satanstoe "  of  Fenimore  Cooper's  novel  of  that 
name  and  is  therein  generally  described.  To  this 
point  the  late  Mr.  Greacen  gave  the  name  of 
"  Orienta,"  the  origin  of  which  as  he  himself  told 
the  writer  was  this.  After  he  got  his  house  built 
he  found  that  in  the  summer  mornings,  he  could 
lie  in  bed  and  see  the  Sun  rise  directly  out  of  the 
water  far  up  the  Sound,  and  therefore  he  called 
his  place  "  Orient,"  but  '•  subsetjuently "  said  he, 
finding  that  a  little  hamlet  at  Oyster-pond  Point, 
Long  Island,  had  appropriated  that  name,  I  just 
tacked  an  "  a  "  to  the  end  of  it  and  called  my  place 
"Orienta."  Being  a  musical  name  it  is  often  heard 
as  applied  to  the  Neck  itself,  a  fact  Mr.  Greacen 
said,  he  did  not  like  "  for  it  ought  to  be  kept  for  the 
place  I  made,  especially  as  everybody  on  the  Neck 
laughed  at  me  when  I  adopted  it."  Unfortunately  it 
has  been  taken  of  late  to  designate  drinking  saloons 
&c  in  the  village  of  Mamaroneck. 

"  Vergemere  "  the  writer's  place  is  at  the  East  end 
of  the  Neck.  It  and  Mr.  Flagler's  are  the  only  places 
upon  it  which  have  a  double  water  front,  and  where 
vessels  can  lie  in  safety  in  all  winds.  It  is  surrounded 
by  old  forest  trees,  is  very  handsomely  laid  out,  and 
commands  extensive  and  striking  marine  views.  Be- 
tween these  two  are  the  seats  of  Mr.  James  M.  Con- 
stable, Mr.  J.  A.  Bostwick,  the  Hon.  David  Dudley 
Field,  Mr.  Wm.  G.  Read,  Miss  Van  Hchaack,  Mr. 
Ambrose  McGregor,  as  well  as  those  of  Mr.  Leonard 
Jacob,  Mrs.  Eldridge,  Mr.  Meigham,  and  that  of  the 
late  James  M.  Miller,  and  Mr.  James  T.  Burnet. 

The  town  records  of  Mamaroneck  consist  of  two 
volumes,  one  a  small  parchment  covered  folio,  begin- 
ning only  on  the  2d  of  April,  1G97,  containing  the 
records  of  the  annual  elections  down  almost  to  the 
present  time,  when  it  became  full.    The  other  is  a 


u\ 


MAMARONECK. 


large  folio  about  half  full  of  deeds  and  miscellaneouH 
papers  among  which  are  many  freeing  negro  ulavt-H 
under  the  state  laws  gradually  abolishing  slavery.  It 
was  opened  in  1756. 

The  first  entry  in  the  records  of  Maraaroneck  is  as 
follows : 

"  Captain  James  Mott  elected  and  chosen  assessor 
for  the  ensuing  year  1G97,  Samuel  Palmer  chosen 
supervisor,  Henry  Disbrow  chosen  collector  and  sur- 
veyor of  the  highways,  William  Palmer  elected  and 
chosen  constable  and  recorder.  All  done  by  the  free- 
holders and  inhabitants  of  the  above  said  place  at  a 
town  meeting  held  at  the  house  of  Madam  Richbil's 
on  the  2d  day  of  April  1697." 

The  entries  of  elections  are  made  irregularly  for  a 
few  years  subsefjuently  to  the  above  date,  but  after- 
wards quite  regularly.  From  an  examination  the 
following  is  a  list  of  the  supervisors  and  clerks  of  the 
town  from  the  beginning  iw  accurate  as  it  can  he 
made : 

SliPKKVISOIU. 


1697.  Sniuiiel  Palmer. 
KiUfWW,  17(tt.  Jiiiiies  Slott. 
17117-8.  Henry  Dinbrow. 
1710-11.  Samuel  Piilmor. 
1712-14.  Noliulniiill  I'almor. 
1716-16.  SilvuniiB  Palmer. 

1717.  Joalah  yuliiby. 

1718.  John  lirlffuii. 
1719-20.  Henry  I'uwier. 
1721-22.  Silvanuu  Palmer. 

1723.  Henry  Fuwier. 

1724.  Silvanus  Palmer. 
1725-28.  Henry  Fowler. 
1727-42.  Silvanus  Palmer.' 

1743.  Underbill  Budd. 

1744.  Nehemlali  i'almcr. 
1746-17.  Underliill  Budd. 
1748-68.  John  Stevenson. 
Dec.  1768.  John  Townsend.s 
176'J-0O.  Reuben  Bloomer. 
1761-70.  Jcdin  Town«-nd. 
1771-7S.  William  Sutton. 
1776.  ReulKU  Bloomer. 
1783-U3.  Gilbert  Budd. 
1704-U7.  BuiOandn  (iriffen, 
1798-1800.  John  P.  De  Lancey. 
1801-2.  Edward  Merrltt. 
1803-6.  Aaron  Palmer. 
1807-13.  Joliu  Pinkney. 
1814.  John  Peter  I)e  Luncey.^ 
1816.  Monmouth  Lyon. 

1816.  A  iron  Palmer. 
1817-1.     John  Pinkney. 


1820-24.  John  I).  Underbill. 
IN26-27.  Aaron  Palmer. 
IH28.  John  Morrill. 
1H2II.  (Mwin  Post. 
1h30.  Henry  Munro. 
l8:)l-32.  James  H.  Union. 
1833-34.  Slonmouth  Lyon. 
18.'ta-42.  James  H.  <iuion. 
l843-4.'i.  Benjamin  M.  Brown. 
1846.  Stephen  C.  Orlff.n. 
I847-4U.  Ueujaniin  51.  Brown. 

1860.  James  II.  Guion. 

1861.  Charles  W.  Hopkins. 
18i')2.  Louis  Walsh. 

1853.  Zachuriali  Voorhees. 

1864.  Louis  Walsh. 

186.')-6H.  John  Morrell. 

1850-60.  William  L.  Darker. 

1861.  Louis  Walsh. 

1X62-64.  Jonas  D.  Hill. 

1865-66.  Louis  Walsh. 

1867.  Jacob  B.  Humphrey. 

1808.  Sehuromau  Ilalsted. 

I86U-70.  Thomas  L.  Itushmore. 

1K71.  James  J.  Burnet. 

1872-76.  Charles  II.  Birney. 

1877.  Matthias  Bunta,  who  has 
been  continually  re-elected  to  the 
present  year,  1886,  and  for  the 
last  few  years  by  a  niuiuinions 
vote  of  all  parties,  although  he  is 
a  strong  Democrat. 


161)7-99.  William  Palmer. 
1702.  Obadluh  Palmer. 
1708-18.  Eliezer  Oeduey. 
1718-64.  Nebemiah  Palmer. 


Town  Clkrkii. 

1758-66.  William  Mott. 
1766-70.  John  Townsend. 
1771-1806.  UllbortBudd. 
1807-16.  Dr.  David  Rogers,  Jr.* 


1  Died  1742.     Nohemiah  Palmer  was  elected  supervisor  in  his  stead. 

2Ele<;ted  in  the  place  of  John  Stevenson,  who  had  removed  from  the 
town. 

^  The  candidate!  for  supervisor  in  1814  wore  Henry  Merrltt  and  John 
Pinkney.  The  result  of  the  election  was  contested,  and  in  June,  1814, 
the  Jnsticeof  the  peoceappoiuted  Mr.  De Lancey  supervisor. 

< Dr.  Rogers  and  (illbert  Budd  Horton  were  the  candidates  for  town 
olerk  iu  1814.    A  contest  took  place  between  them  over  tbe  result  of  the 


1817-24.  Honmonth  Lyon. 
IS26-26.  (iuy  ('.  Ilayley. 
1827.  Coles  TompkiuB, 
1828-311.  Munnioulli  Lynn. 
18.31.  Daniel  D.  T.  llaildeu. 
I8.')2-;I4.  Walter  Manhall. 
1836.  Horace  B.  .Shiul. 
18.36.  AnioaF.  Hattli'ld. 
1837-41.  Epunetns  C.  Hadden. 
1842-4.').  Elijah  (i.  Dixon. 
1846-47.  Edwuril  Seaman. 
1848.  OeoriciMlaxter. 
l84t*-53.  Edwui'd  Seaman. 
1 854-66.  Joseph  IIofTluan. 
lh.',7-.'>8.  Edward  S<'aman. 
|8.')0.  Joseph  llofiinun. 


1860-61.  Edward  Seamen. 
1862-64.  JiKepli  Hoffman. 
1865-66.  Albert  Lyon. 
1867-69.  JohmD.  Hill.      '  >   ' 

1870.  Albert  Lyon. 

1871.  Jacob  Buckler. 

1872.  John  N.  Boyd. 
1873-74.  Francis  0.  Corner. 
1875-76.  William  A.  Boyd. 
1877.  John  C.  Kaircblid. 
1878-79.  Joseph  H.  McLoughlln. 
1880.  William  A.  Sickle*. 

1K81.  Joseph  H.  McLoughlln. 

1882.  William  H.  Langu. 

1883.  William  A.  Sickles. 
1884-86.  William  H.  l.ange. 


Space  will  not  permit  the  introduction  of  much  curi- 
ous information  contained  in  the  town  records  which 
it  was  the  iutention  to  give,  and  which  is  found  mixed 
up  with  the  routine  entries  of  town  meetings,  Ac.  &c. 
The  following  entry  however  is  of  much  importance 
showing  as  it  does  the  burial  place  of  John  Richbell 
the  first  white  man  who  bought  Mamaroneck  of  the 
natives — the  Father  of  the  Town,  his  mother  in  law, 
and  one  of  his  daughters.  .As  Mrs.  Richbell  his 
widow  continued  to  live  iu  Mamaroneck  and  sur- 
vived till  the  first  years  of  the  eighteenth  century, 
though  the  precise  date  of  her  death  can  not  be 
found,  it  is  most  probable  that  she  too  is  buried  with 
her  husband.  There  is  no  date  to  the  entry,  which 
shows  beside  the  intimacy  between  the  Richbell  and 
the  Disbrow  families.  The  James  Mott  who  makes 
i his  declaration  was  the  husband  of  Richbcll's  daughter 
Mary  whose  burial  is  mentioned  in  it. 

The  Burial  Place  of  Richbell. 

"  I  James  Mott  do  give  and  grant  to  Margaret  Dis- 
brow and  her  three  sons  Henery  John  and  Benjamin 
all  belonging  to  Momoronack  to  them  and  their  fain- 
ylies  forever  the  Liberty  of  burying  their  dead 
whether  Father  or  Mother,  husband  or  wife,  brother 
ur  sister,  son  or  daughter,  in  a  certain  peace  of  Land 
Laying  near  the  Salt  Meadow,  where  Mr.  John  Rich- 
bell and  his  wife's  Mother,  and  my  wife  Mary  Ikiott 
was  buried  in  my  home  lot  or  feild  adjoining  to  my 
house,  written  by  William  palmer  Clerk  of  Momoro- 
nack by  order  of  Capt  James  Mott." 

I.  Town  Records  71. 

The  spot  is  on  the  property  of  Mr.  Thomas  L. 
Rushmore  on  the  little  knoll  between  the  Harbour 
and  De  Lancey  Avenue,  marked  by  a  few  trees  and  a 
few  half  buried  tombstones  of  a  comparatively  late 
date.  How  many  of  the  Disbrows  are  buried  there 
nought  remains  to  tell.  They  have  had  for  sixty  or 
seventy  years  a  cemetery  of  their  own  on  West  St. 
The  last  person  whom  the  writer  knows  to  have  been 
buried  on  the  knoll,  was  the  venerable  Quaker  who 
once  owned  the  farm  and  the  knoll  itself.  Seaman  Giles 
— and  of  whom  he  has  a  vivid  recollection.    It  is  the 

election,  which  was  terminated  in  June  of  that  year  by  the  Justices  of 
the  peace  electing  Dr.  Bugers  to  the  office. 


MAMARONECK. 


M 


oldest  burial  place  of  civilized  man  in  the  town,  and 
it  in  hoped  thut  some  proper  historic  monument  may 
yet  mark  this  spot  ao  sacred  in  the  memory  of  the 
earliest  settler  of  Mamuroncck  and  his  family  and 
friends. 

There  is  one  other  entry  in  the  town  book  of  such 
an  odd  nature  that  it  must  be  mentioned,  an  entry 
which  shows  the  strength  of  an  agricultural  supersti- 
tion very  prevalent  in  the  hwt  century  and  which  may 
linger  still  in  some  old  fashioned  regions. 

"April  5"",  nsrj.  The  Freeholders  and  Inhabitants 
agree  that  the  overseers  of  Highways  are  impowered 
to  call  on  all  the  Men  in  their  several  Districts  fi>r 
the  purpose  of  Destroying  the  Barbery  bushes,  so  often 
as  the  said  overseers  shall  think  proper,  until  the 
whole  are  destroyed,  any  man  refusing  to  come,  if  he 
is  legally  warned,  shall  forfeit  4«.  for  every  day,  to  be 
recovered  in  the  same  manner  as  the  fines  for  neglect 
of  working  the  roads  are,  which  fines  shall  be  lay'd 
out  as  the  overseers  think  proper."  It  wasthepopul  ir 
belief  of  that  day  that  the  smut  or  blight  in  wheat  and 
other  grains  was  caused  by  these  unfortunate  barberry 
bushes,  hence  in  Mamaroneck  as  in  many  other 
places,  ridiculous  as  it  seems  at  this  day,  they  were 
proceeded  against  as  public  enemies. 

The  de  Lanceys  of  New  York  so  closely  connected 
with  the  Province,  and  State,  and  the  County  of  West- 
chester, are  of  French  origin,  the  first  of  them  in 
America  having  been  driven  from  France  by  the  Re- 
vocation of  the  Edict  of  Nantes,  being  a  Huguenot. 
The  annexed  account  of  this  family  ia  mainly  from 
Bolton's  """"ud  edition  of  his  History  of  West- 
chester Con  wiiich  was  drawn  up  irom  the  au- 
thorities referi  to  in  it,  and  later  information  from 
the  late  Bishop  de  Lancey  and  the  present  writer. 

The  de  lianceys  of  New  York,  are  a  branch  of  the 
ancient  house  of  de  Lancey  in  France,  springing 
from  Guy  de  Lancey,  Eeuyer,  Vicomte  de  Laval  et  de 
Nouvion,  who  in  1432,  held  of  the  Prince-Bishop  of 
the  Duchy  of  Laon,  the  fiefs  of  the  four  banier  of  La- 
val, and  that  of  Nouvion.'  These  territories  formed 
one  of  the  fourVicomte-cies  of  the  Laonnois,  a  divi- 
sion of  the  old  province  of  the  "  Isle  of  France," 
bordering  on  Picardy. 

The  manuscript  genealogies  of  this  family  are  pre- 
served in  the  Armorial  General  de  la  France  2d  Reg- 
ister, 2d  volume,  in  t*he  National  Library  of  France'' 
at  Paris,  and  in  the  archives  of  the  department  of 
the  Aiane,  at  the  city  of  Laon.  The  latter  have  been 
given  in  the  Dictionnaire  Historique  du  Depart- 
ment de'  I'Aisne  of  M.  Melville.'  The  descent  is 
thus  given  from  the  French  authorities.* 


1  Soiiietimeii  spollud  "  Noiiviitn."  Tlieae  laiiilB  iiiiil  vllliigw  uro  Hitiiutril 
a  few  nilliM  from  thi>  city  of  Laon  iu  tlio  iirescnt  dopiirtuieiit  of  the 
Abne. 

a  Tlio  o(Bi:lttl  MSS.  of  thin  work,  the  great  National  Register  of  tlio 
French  Nobleaee,  were  flrat  printed  by  unier  of  I/oiiin  XV.,  in  17:)8. 

'  In  two  TOls.  8vo.,  |iublieiie(i  ut  I'ariii  and  ut  Laon  in  18(i5. 

<  Le  Nobilialre  de  I'lcarrtio,  l'uri»,    (',<.'•  tiflu  "Lauui,"  Dictionnaire  de 

8 


The  prefixed  Roman  numerals  are  bo  used  in  the 
French  genealogies  to  denote  the  ditt'erent  in- 
divi<luals  bearing  the  same  Christian  name. 

1432.  Guy  de  Lancy,  Eeuyer '  Vicomte  de  Laval  et 
de  Nouvion.     Wife,  Anne  de  Marcilly. 

1436.  Jean  I,  (John)  de  Lancy,  2d  Vicomte. 

1470.  Jean  II,  (John)  de  Lancy,  3d  Vicomte,  Deputy 
to  the  States -General  at  Tours  in  1484,  present  at 
the  battles  Fornoue  and  Ravvenna. 

1525.  Charles  I,  dc  Lancy,  4th  Vicomte.  Wives, 
1.  Nicole  St.  Pere,  issue,  one  daughter,  mar- 
ried Antoine  Pioche,  of  Laon.  2.  Marie  de 
Viliiers,  issue  two  sons,  Charles  6th  Vicomte, 
and  Christophe,  Seigneur  de  Raray. 

1535.  Charles  II,  de  Lancy,  5th  Vicomte.  Wife,  Isa- 
bel Branche,  married  15th  April,  1534 ;  issue, 
Charles  6th  Vicomte,  Jacques  (James)  Claude, 
and  a  daughter  Barbe. 

1561».  Charles  III,  de  Lancy,  6th  Vicomte.  Wives,  1. 
Madeline  Le  Brun,  married  2l8t  of  July,  1569 ; 
issue,  Charles  IV.,  de  Lancy,  Seigneur  de  Coc- 
quebine,  (who  died  in  1()(>7,  leaving  by  Francoise 
Crochart,  his  first  wife;  Charles  V,  de  Lancy, 
Seigneur  de  Charlomont,  who  died  unmarried. 
By  his  second  wife  Marthe  de  Resnel,  the 
Seigneur  de  Cocciuebine,  who  was  created  a  Coun- 
sellor to  the  King,  20th  of  March,  1652,  by  whom 
he  had  no  children.) 
Charles  III,  de  Lancy,  6th  Vicomte,  was  pres- 

1590.  ent  at  the  battle  of  Ivry  in  1590  2.  By  his 
second  wife  Claude  de  May,  married  15th  Janu- 

1593.  ary,  1593,  he  had  issue,  Charles  de  Lancy,  Sieur 
de  Suine  et  de  Niville,  Antoine,  a  Canon  of  the 
Cathedral  of  Laon,  and  Claude. 

1611,  Charles  de  Lancy,  Sieur  de  Suine  et  de  Niville, 

1653.  born  in  1611,  married  25th  June,  1653,  Jeanne 
Ysore,  was  created  a  Counsellor  of  State  to  the 

1689.  King  in  1654,  and  died  23d  of  November,  1689, 
leaving  issue,  one  child, — 
Charles  Ambroise  de  Lancy,  Seigneur  de  Ni- 

1702.  ville  et  du  Condray,  de  Frenoi,  et  d'Orgemont, 
who  married  9tb  January,  1702,  Marie  Made- 
leine Labbe.    He  was  confirmed  in  his  nobility 

1697.  by  a  decree  of  the  King  in  Council,  Nov.  30th, 
1697.    He  had  issue,  an  only  son, — 

1707.  Pierre  Charles  de  Lancy,  Seigneur  de  Niville 
et  de  Blarus,  born  5th  of  June,  1707  ;  an  officer  of 

1750.  the  King's  Guards,  who  died  unmarried  in 
1750. 

Christophe  de  Lancy,  Signeur  de  Raray, 
above  named,  the  younger  of  the  two  sons  of 
Charles  de  Lancy  4th,  Vicomte  de  Laval  et  de 

1525.  Nouvion,  created  Baron  de  Raray,  having  no 
issue  by  his  first  wife,  Barbe  de  Loueu,  married 

1553.  Secondly,  January  19th,  1553,  Francoise  Lami, 
daughter  of  Pierre  Lami,  Seigneur  de  la  Morliere. 

In  KobleiMw  de  France,  by  Chuuaye  De^buiB,  vol,  Tiii :  title  *'  Laucy;'*  An- 
nnaire  de  la  Nobleflau  of  Borel  d'Hauterive  for  1656,  **  Lancy — Raray.** 
>  Eeuyer,  denotue  a  gentleman  entiUed  to  use  coatamior. 


18 


MAMARONECK. 


1584.  He  died  in  1584,  leaving  a  son  Nicholas  de 
Lancy,  second  Baron,  Treasurer  of  Gaston,  first 
Duke  of  Orleans  who  married  Lucrece  de 
Lancise,  a  Florentine  lady,  and  had  four  chil- 
dren.   1.  Henry   de  Lancy,  third   Baron,   who 

1654.  was  created  January  17th,  IGM,  Marquis  De 
Barai.  2.  Francois  de  Lancy,  Seigneur  D'Ara- 
niont,  called  the  Chevalier  de  Karay,  who  was 
killed  at  the  siege  of  Cdiule,  17th  August,  1074, 
unmarried ;  and  3.  Charles  de  Lancy,  Seigneur 
de  Ribecourt,  et  Pimprii,  who  married  Made- 
leine d'Aguesseau  and  died  without  issue  in  1675. 
4.  Madeleine  de  Lancy,  nuirried  11th  Novem- 
ber, 1619,  Charles  de  Mornay,  Seigneur  de  Mont- 
chevreuil. 

Henry  de  Lancy,  above  named,  Ist  Marquis  de 
Raray,  married  January  30th,  1633,  Catharine 
d'Angennes,  daughter  of  Louis  d'Angennes, 
Seigneur  de  la  Loupe  and  his  wife  Francoise, 
daughter  of  Odet,  Seigneur  d'Auberville,  Bailly 
of  the  city  of  Caen,  in  Normandy,  by  whom  he 
had,  1.  Gaston  Jean  Baptiste  de  Lancy,  2d  Mar- 
quis ;  2.  Charles  de  Lancy-Raray,  killed  at  the 
siege  of  Lille,  in  1667,  unmarried ;  and  3.  Marie 
Charlotte,  wife  of  Louis  des  Acres,  Marquis  de 
I'Aigle,  who  died  in  Paris,  August  27th,  1734, 
aged  82  years.' 

1660.  Gaston  Jean  Baptiste  de  Lancy,  second  Mar- 
quis de  Raray,  married  4th  May,  1660,  Marie 
Luce  Auberj-,  daughter  of  Robert,  Marquis  de 
Vatan,  and  had  two  sons,  Charles  Henry  de 
Lancy,  third  Marquis,  made  a  page  to  the  King 

1679.  in  1679,  who  died  shortly  after,  unmarried,  and 
Gaston  Jean  Baptiste  de  Lancy,  who  succeeded 
his  brother  an  fourth  Marquis  and  died  unmar- 
ried not  long  after.      Both  these  brothers  died 

1680.  in  1680 ;  and  with  them  ended  the  males  of 
this  branch  of  the  family.  Their  sisters  were 
five,  Henriette,  wife  of  the  Marquis  de  Creve- 
coBur ;  Catharine,  wife  of  the  Seigneur  de  la  Bil- 
larderie ; '  Francoise,  died  unmarried  ;  Annette, 
died  unmarried,  and  Marie  Luce,  wife  of  the 
Comte  de  Nonant,  who  died  16th  March,  1743, 

;,    aged  eighty. 


'  Le  PsUia  d'LIIonneiir,  Paris,  1604,  pago  ;112,  family  "  d'Angonnos." 
•In  front  of  tlie  altar  at  the  Church  of  Vrclierio,   (de|>artmeDt    of 
Cite,  France),  there  is  a  toiiilMtone  erected  to  thia  laily,  inacabed  : — 

D.        O.        M. 

let  ropoae 
Haute  etpiiiaanute  Dame 
Madame  Fkancoisf.  iik  Lanci  Rabi,  dame 
Dea  Terrea  et  Setgneuriea,  d'Haramont,  Kibecourt, 
Pimpre  St.  Qcrraain  et  Kuy,  en  lurtio  Chatelaine 
Bereditaire  et  engugiatu  dee  DomalneH  de  lUthlzy 
et  Verborie,  pneaidea  par  sea  jwrea  de  puigplua 
deux  centa  ana  veuve  de  Meaaire  llarthelemi  de 
Flahaut  Chevelier  aeigneur  de  la  Billarderie  Mai  tro 
de  camp  de  Cavalerie,  exempt  dea  gardes  du  corps 
du  Roi  toe  a  la  batalle  da  Mai  plaqust.     La  dita 
"  Dame  de  la  Billarderie  eat  decedee  la  2S  Juin,  16ij4. 

•  '  agree  de  61  ana. 

Fiiez pour aon knt   ■  .    '    :\_'' 1 


The  Arms  are  blazoned  in  the  "Armorial 
General  de  la  France,"  thus,  "  Akmks;  or,  a  I'aigle 
eployee  de  stible,  charge  sur  I'estomac  d'un  ecusson 
d'azur,  a  trois  lances  d'or,  posces  en  pal,  pointes  en 
haut."  In  English,  Akmh  :  Or,  an  eagle  wings  dis- 
played, sable,  charged  on  the  breast  with  a  shield 
azure,  three  tilting  lances  or,  in  pale,  points  upward. 

On  becoming  a  British  subject,  Ktienne  (or  Ste- 
phen) de  Lancy  modified  these  arms  which  had 
originated  before  the  use  of  crests  in  heraldry,  to 
make  them  more  like  those  of  English  families,  most 
of  which  have  crests  ;  and  though  not  registered  in 
the  English  College  oi  Arms,  they  appear  as  so  modi- 
fied in  most  English  heraldic  works,  and  have  since 
been  so  borne  in  America,  notably  on  the  official  seal 
of  his  son  James  de  Lancey,  aa  Lt.  Governor  and 
('aptain  General  of  New  York.  They  are  thus  blaz- 
oned:— Arms;  Azure,  a  tilting  lance  proper,  point  up- 
ward with  a  pennon  argent  bearing  a  cross  gules 
fringed  and  floating  to  the  right,  debruised  of  afess,  or. 
Crest  ;  a  sinister  arm  in  armor  einbowed,  the  band 
grasping  a  tilting  lance,  pennon  floating,  both  proper. 
Motto  ;  Certum  voto  pete  finem. 

The  name  of  this  family,  anciently  spelled  "  Lanci," 
and  later  "Lancy,"  in  France,  was  anglicised  by 
Etienne  de  Lancy  on  being  denizenized  a  British  sub- 
ject in  1686,  after  which  time  he  always  wrote  his 
name  Stephen  de  Lancey — thus  inserting  an  "  e"  in 
the  final  syllable.  The  "  de"  is  the  ordinary  French 
prefix,  denoting  nobility. 

The  Seigneur  Jacques  (James)  de  Lancy,  above- 
named,  second  son  of  Charles  de  Lancy,  fifth  Vicomte 
de  Laval  et  de  Nouvion,  was  the  ancestor  of  the 
Huguenot  branch,  the  only  existing  one,  of  this  fam- 
ily. His  son  the  Seigneur  Jacques  de  Lancy  of  Caen, 
married  Marguerite  Bertrand,daughter  of  Pierre  Ber- 
trand  of  Caen,  by  his  first  wife,  the  Demoiselle  Firel, 
and  had  two  children,  a  son  Eticnnc  (or  Stephen)  de 
Lancey,  born  at  Caen,  October  24,  1663,  and  a  daugh- 
ter, the  wife  of  John  Barbaric. '  On  the  revocation 
of  the  edict  of  Nantes,  Stephen  de  Lancey  was  one  of 
those  who,  stripped  of  their  titles  and  estates,  fled 
from  persecution — leaving  his  aged  mother,  then  a 
widow,  in  concealment  at  Caen,  he  escaped  to  Hol- 
land, where,  remaining  a  short  time,  he  proceeded  to 
England,  and  taking  out  letters  of  denization  as  an 
English  subject  at  London,  on  the  20th  of  March, 
1686,  he  sailed  for  New  York,  where  he  arrived  on 
the  7th  of  June  following.  Here  with  three  hundred 
pounds  sterling,  the  proceeds  of  the  sale  of  some 
family  jewels,  the  parting  gift  of  his  mother,  he  em- 
barked in  mercantile  pursuits.  By  industry  and  strict 
application  to  business,  he  became  a  successful  mer- 


'  M8S.,  "  Bertrand"  Genealogy  : — John  Barbarie  and  hia  family  came 
to  New  York  in  166S,  in  which  year  (on  5th  January),  he  and  hia  aoni 
Peter,  and  John  Peter,  were  denizened  aa  Engllah  aubjeita  in  London. 
He  waa  aubseqiiently  a  merchant  in  New  York,  in  partnerahip  with 
hia  brother-in-law,  Stephen  de  Loucy,  and  a  member  of  the  Council  of 
the  Prorince. 


MAMARONECK. 


19 


rhniit  iind  amasRed  a  large  fortune.  He  was  a  highly 
eateemed  and  influential  man,  and  held,  through  all 
his  life,  honorable  appointments  in  the  councils  of 
the  city,  as  well  as  in  the  Representative  Assembly  of 
the  Province.  He  was  elected  Alderman  of  the  west 
ward  of  the  city,  five  years  after  his  arrival,  in  1691. 
He  was  representative  from  the  city  and  county  of 
New  York,  in  the  Provincial  Assembly,  from  1702  to 
1715,  with  the  exception  of  170!> ;  and  in  172.'),  on  the 
decease  of  Mr.  Provoost,  he  was  elected  again  to  that 
body.  The  following  year  he  was  re-elected,  and  con- 
tinued in  ofiSce  until  1737 ;  a  service  of  twenty-six 
years  in  all.  In  1716,  being  a  vestryman  of  Trinity 
church,  he  contributed  £50,  the  amount  of  his  salary 
as  Representative  to  the  General  Assembly,  to  buy  a 
city  clock  for  that  church,  the  first  ever  erected  in 
New  York.  To  him  and  Mr.  John  Moore,  his  part- 
ner, the  city  is  also  indebted  for  the  introduction  of 
fire  engines,  in  1731.  '  He  was  one  of  the  principal 
benefactors  of  the  French  church,  Du  St.  Esprit,  es- 
tablished in  New  York  by  the  refugees  who  fled  upon 
the  Revocation  of  the  Edict  of  Nantes,  and  a  warm 
friend  of  the  French  Huguenots  at  New  Rochelle. 
The  following  letter  addressed  by  him,  1591,  to  his 
friend  Alexander  Allaire,  is  still  preserved  among  the 
public  records  at  New  Rochelle. 

NiEU  TOBK,  LE  27  JlXIET,  lOOl. 

HoNt.  Allaibi  : 

Monsieur  Notre  Amy  Mona.  Bonheiler,  aviint  de  partir  ine  ilonneru 
urdre  qu'cri  cufl  <iiiil  viii^Mo  A  inourlr  11  Holt  fair  donitation  de  bpk  t^rres 
&  wi  fllleiile  vutre  tlllo,  8y  vouh  |n)uvu'/  fulre  qiielque  1k>iii>tlce  den  dlU) 
terroit.  Sott  A  (^iijier  de8  arbruH  on  ii  fulre  des  folns  sur  lew  [iralrlei}  vou8 
le  poiiveH  a  rexcluslon  de  qui  qiiese  Holt,  .lo  suit*. 

Muns,  votre  tr6  humble  servlteiir, 

ETIENNE  DK  I/ASCKV, 

Ceil  est  la  v{)retable  copple  de  Torlglnal.  • 

He  was  a  vestryman  of  Trinity  church,  New  York  at 
the  time  of  his  death,  in  1741.  He  married  January 
23d,  1700,  Anne  Van  Cortlandt,  daughter  of  Stephanus 
Van  Cortlandt  (whose  family  was  then  one  ofthi- 
most  opulent  and  extensive  in  the  Province).  Stephen 
de  Lancey  at  his  death  in  1741  left  issue  surviving, 
James,  Peter,  Stephen,  John,  Oliver,  Susan  and 
Anne.  Of  these  sons  Stephen  and  John  died  bache- 
lors. Susan  married  Admiral  Sir  Peter  Warren,  and 
Anne  ttie  Hon.  John  Watts  of  New  York.  The  eldest 
son,  Juiiiesde  Lancey,  a  man  of  great  talent,  was  born 
in  the  City  of  New  York,  27tl  November,  1703,  and 
received  his  education  at  the  University  of  Cambridge, 
England.  He  was  a  fellow  commoner  of  Corpus 
Christi  College  (where  he  was  styled  the  "  handsome 
American")  and  studied  law  in  the  Temple.  In  1725, 
he  returned  to  New  York,  and  on  the  decease  of  John 
Barbaric,  his  uncle  by  marriage,  was  appointed  by 
George  II.  to  succeed  him  in  the  Provincial  Council. 
He  took  his  seat  at  the  board,  January  29,  1729,  and 
held  it  to  April  9,  1733,  when  he  was  appointed  Chief 


Justice  of  New  York   and  continued  so  the  remain- 
der of  his  life.    In  1753,  on  the  accession  of  Sir  Uan- 
vers  Osborne  os  Governor,  in  the  place  of  George 
Clinton,  ho  received  the  commission  of  Lieutenant- 
Governor,  which   had  been   conferred  upon  him  in 
I  1747  by  George  I) .  and  had  been  kept  back  by  Clin- 
ton until  this  time.    The  oath  of  office  was  adminis- 
tered October  10,  1753.    The  tragical  death  of  Sir 
Danvers  Osborn  by  suicide  two  days  afterwards,  oc- 
I  casioned  the  elevation  of  Mr.  de  Lancey  to  the  Gu- 
I  bernatorial  chair,  which  he  occupied  till  the  2d  of 
I  September,  1755,  when   the  new  Governor,  Admiral 
]  Sir  Charles  Hardy  arrived,   who    administered  the 
'  government  till   the  2d  of  July,  1757.    Preferring  a 
naval  command   Hardy  resigned,  and  sailed  in  the 
expedition  to  Louisburgh,  and  Mr.  De  Lancey  again 
took  the  reins  of  Government. 

The  ministry  of  England  wished  to  keep  the  com- 
mand of  New  York  in  the  hands  of  Mr.  de  Lancey, 
but  it  was  then,  as  it  is  to  this  day,  a  rule  of  the  Eng- 
lish Government  never  to  appoint  a  native  colonist  to 
the  supreme  command  over  his  own  colony.  To  effect 
their  object  in  this  case  without  violating  their 
rule,  they  decided  not  to  appoint  any  new  Governor 
as  long  08  Mr.  de  Lancey  lived;  he  therefore  re- 
mained the  Governor  of  New  York  under  his  commis- 
sion as  Lieutenant-Governor  until  his  death,  some 
three  years  afterwards,  on  the  30th  of  July,  1760.' 

"On  the  19th  of  June,  1754,  Governor  de  Lancey 
convened  and  presided  over  the  celebrated  Congress  of 
Albany,  the  first  Congress  ever  held  in  America,  over 
which  he  presided.  This  was  a  Congress  of  delegates 
from  all  the  colonies,  which  the  home  government  di- 
rected the  Governor  of  New  York  to  hold,  for  the  pur- 
pose of  conciliating  the  Indian  nations  who  were  in- 
vited to  attend  it;  of  renewing  the  covenant  chain 
and  attaching  them  more  closely  to  the  British  inter- 
est, and  comprising  all  the  provinces  in  one  general 
treaty  to  be  made  with  them  in  the  King's  name,  and 
for  no  other  purpose.*  Speeches  and  presents  were 
made  to  the  Indians  who  promised  to  do  all  that  was 
asked  of  them,  but  no  formal  treaty  whatever  was 
concluded.  The  Congress  voted  instead,  that  the 
delegation  from  each  colony  except  New  York,  should 
appoint  one  of  their  number,  who  together  should  be 
a  committee  to  digest  a  plan  for  a  general  union  of  all 
the  colonies. 

The  choice  of  the  New  York  committee-man  was 
left  to  Governor  de  Lancey,  who,  acting  most  impar- 
tially, appointed  his  political  opponent,  William 
Smith,  Esq.,  the  elder.*  This  movement,  which  was 
not  within  the  objects  of  the  Congress  as  defined  in 


>  Mlacellsneoiu  works,  by  Oen.  de  Peyster ;  Ba  Poyater  Oen.   Ref. 
p.  64. 
<  Copied  tnm  original  H88.  iu  Beo.  of  New  Bochelle. 


'  For  a  fiill  biographical  sketch  of  Oovernor  De  Lancey,  see  Docamen- 
tary  History  of  New  York,  toI.  IV,  p.  1037. 

*  Virginia  and  Carolina  did  not  send  delegates,  but  desired  to  be  con- 
sidered as  present.    Doc.  Hist.  N.  Y.,  II,  6fi7. 

'  See  Letter  of  Lords  of  Trade,  directing  the  holding  of  the  Congress, 
and  the  minutes  of  its  proceedings  In  full.  In  Doc.  Hist.  N.  Y.,  II,  6i6 
and  N.  Y.  Col.  Hist.,  tI.  p.  853. 


*"%..* 


20 


MAMAROiNEUK. 


the  letter  of  the  Board  of  Trade  above  mentioned,  ru- 
Bulted  in  the  itdopting  of  a  plan  of  a  union  to  be  made 
by  an  act  of  Parliament,  which,  after  the  provinioni* 
were  resolved  on,  was  put  into  form  by  lienjamin 
Franklin,  who  wiu  a  delegate  from  Pennsylvania,  and 
which  was  not  decided  upon,  but  merely  sent  to  the 
different  provincn*  for  consideration. 

Before  the  motion  for  the  appointment  of  this  com- 
mittee wa«  made,  (Jovernor  de  Lancey,  being  in  favor 
of  the  colonies  uniting  for  their  own  defence,  pro- 
posed the  building  and  maintaining,  at  the  joint  ex- 
pense of  the  colonies,  of  a  chain  of  forts  covering  their 
whole  exposed  frontier,  and  some  in  the  Indian  coun- 
try itself.  But  this  plan,  like  the  other,  was  without 
effect  upon  the  Congress ;  for,  as  he  tells  us  himself, 
"they  seemed  so  fully  persuaded  of  the  backwardness 
of  the  several  assemblies  to  come  into  joint  and  vig- 
orous measures  that  they  were  unwilling  to  enter 
upon  the  consideration  of  the  matters." '  His  idea 
seems  to  have  been  for  a  practical  union  of  the  col- 
onies for  their  own  defense  to  be  made  by  themselves; 
whilst  that  of  the  committees,  who  despaired  of  a  vol- 
untary union,  was  for  a  consolidation  of  the  colonies 
to  be  enforced  by  act  of  Parliument.  Neither  plan, 
however,  met  with  favor  in  any  quarter,  and  the  Con- 
gress effected  little  but  the  conciliation  of  the  In- 
dians.' 

In  the  autumn  of  IITA,  the  Governor  suggested  to 
the  Assembly  the  system  of  settling  lands  in  town- 
ships instead  of  patents,  a  measure  which,  being 
passed  by  them,  rapidly  increased  the  population  and 
prosperity  of  the  colony.'' 

On  the  3l8t  of  October,  1754,  Governor  de  Lancey 
'(;ned  and  passed  the  charter  of  King's  (now  Colum- 
)  college,  in  spite  of  the  long  and  bitter  opposition 
ot  the  Presbyterians,  led  by  Mr.  William  Livingston. 
So  decided  were  they  against  the  Episcopalians  at 
this  time,  and  so  determined  were  the  efforts  of  Mr. 
Livingston  to  break  down  the  college,  that,  though 
signed  and  sealed,  the  charter  was  not  delivered  in 
consequence  of  the  clamor,  till  May  7th,  1755,  when, 
after  an  address.  Governor  de  Lancey  presented  it  to 
the  trustees  in  form.* 

"  No  American  had  greater  influence  in  the  col- 
onies than  James  de  Lancey.  Circumstances,  it  is 
true,  aided  in  raising  him  to  this  elevation — such  as 
education,  connections,  wealth,  and  his  high  conser- 
vative principles ;  but  he  owed  as  much  to  personal 
qualities,  perhaps,  as  to  all  other  causes  united.  Gay, 
witty,  easy  of  access,  and  frank,  he  was,  personally, 
the  most  popular  ruler  the  Province  ever  possessed, 
even  when  drawing .  tightest  the  reins  of  Govern- 
ment,"* 


1  See  bin  speech  to  the  Aaaembly  of  AiigiiBt  2Uth,  17S4.     Am.  Jour.,  II, 
Wll,  387. 

2  Sfv  the  proceedingB  of  the  Congress.    Doc.  Hist.  N.  Y.,  II,  3«8,  387. 
'^Auimiibly  Juiiruul,  II,  fur  September,  1754. 

<Duo.  Hist.  N.  r.  IV,  1061. 
'  Doc.  Hist.  N.  r.,  p  11)57. 


The  death  of  Governor  James  de  Lancey,  which 
took  place  on  the  <'il)th  of  .luly,  17(>0,  was  an  event 
which  had  a  great  influence  in  the  affairs  of  the  Prov- 
ince. He  was  found  expiring  u])on  that  morning, 
seated  in  his  chair  in  his  litirary,  too  lute  for  medical 
aid.  His  funeral  took  place  on  the  evening  of  the 
31st  of  July,  I7(iO.  The  body  was  deposited  in  his 
family  vault,  in  the  middle  aisle  of  Trinity  Church, 
the  funeral  service  being  performed  by  the  Kev.  Mr. 
Barclay,  in  great  magnificence;  the  building  was 
splendidly  illuminated.  The  accounts  of  the  funeral 
and  the  procession  from  his  house  in  the  Bowery  to 
the  church,  filled  columns  of  the  papers  of  the  day.' 

The  following  particulars  are  copied  from  a  memo- 
randum written  by  the  elder  John  Watts,  of  New 
York,  in  1787 : 

"Jameade  I.nncey  wua  man  of  iinroiiinion  alillltlet  In  erery  view, 
from  the  law  to  agrlcnltiin',  utid  uu  ol»gant,  plouiwnt  ctiniiiAiiioii — what 
mrely  unitm  In  one  i>orriun  ;  it  RcttnuKl  duubtfiil  which  excelled,  his 
quick  iwnetmtlon  or  his  sound  {iidgnient  ;  thH  first  seenied  an  Instant 
f^ulde  to  the  last.  No  man  in  either  otnce,  (('binf  Justice  or  Lieut. 
('tovernt>r,)  bad  mure  the  li>va  ami  confidence  of  the  iwoplo ;  nor  any 
man,  Ixtfuru  or  since,  half  the  influence,  lie  whk  unfortunately  taken 
from  us  In  July,  17IM),  so  suildi'Uly  that  hU  vi'ry  family  sus|H3ctoil  no 
danger.  We  bwl  spout,  Tcry  aKreeably,  the  day  before  on  !<Uten  Island  ; 
after  ten  at  night  he  left  my  house  iwrfectly  well,  in  the  niurning  be 
was  as  usual,  but  about  nine  a  servant  was  disiHitcbed  to  tell  me  his  nuu- 
ter  was  very  III.  I  mounted  instantly  and  hurried  to  bis  house  In  Ilowery 
Lane,  but  on  the  way  was  alarmed  by  a  call  *  that  all  woii  over,'  and  too 
true  I  found  It ;  he  sat  reclined  in  his  chair,  one  leg  drawn  in,  the  other 
extendetl,  his  arms  over  the  elbows,  so  natumlly,  that  bad  I  not  been 
apprized  of  It,  I  certainly  should  have  spoken  as  I  enterud  the  room. 
\ulKHly  but  bis  youngest  ilaugbter,  a  child,  was  present  at  the  time,  so 
little  illd  the  family  apprehend  the  UioAt  danger.  Never  did  theee  eyes 
behold  such  a  spectacle,  or  did  my  spirits  feel  such  an  Impression.  The 
idea  alTects  nie  whenever  I  think  of  It ;  to  lose  such  a  comiHinlou,  such 
a  counsellor,  such  a  friend.'* 

James  de  Lancey  married  as  above  stated,  Anne, 
eldest  daughter  and  co-heiress  of  the  Hon.  Caleb 
Heathcote,  Lord  of  the  Manor  of  Scarsdale.  By  her, 
he  had  four  sons ;  first,  James ;  second,  Stephen ; 
third,  Heathcote ;  fourth,  John  Peter ;  and  four 
daughters ;  first,  Mary,  wife  of  William  Walton,  who 
died  in  1767  ;  second,  Susannah,  born  18th  November, 
1737,  died  a  spinster  in  1815  ;  third,  Anne,  born  1746, 
and  died  in  1817,  who  married  Thomas  Jones,  Justice 
of  the  Supreme  Court  of  New  York,  author  of  the 
History  of  New  York  during  the  Revolutionary  War ; 
and  Martha  who  died  a  spinster,  aged  19,  in  1769. 

James  De  Lancey,  the  eldest  son  of  the  Lieutenant- 
Governor,  born  in  1732,  was  the  head  of  the  political 
party,  called  by  his  name,  from  his  father's  death  to 
the  Revolution  and  its  leader  in  the  Assembly  of  the 
Province.  He  married,  August  17th,  1771,  Margaret 
Allen  of  Philadelphia,  daughter  of  William  Allen, 
Chief  Justice  of  Pennsylvania,  whose  sister  was  the 
wife  of  Governor  John  Penn  of  that  Province.  The 
late  Mrs.  Harry  Walter  Livingston  (born  Mary  Allen) 
who  died  in  1855,  was  a  niece  of  these  two  sisters. 
James  de  Lancey  had  two  sons,  Charles  in  early  life 
a  British  naval  officer,  and  James,  Lieut-Colonel  of 


*  Puker's  PmI  Boy  uid  oth«r  newqxven. 


■■lA  *. 


20 


MAMAUOiNKCK. 


th 

■u  . 

b}  Mil  K<;l  of  I'niltMDirnt,  Hhtcii,  ■■* 

Wvrc  rKW'ixKt   •>»,  wuM  i«Ml   jhUj 

FrAnkliii.  who  wiuift'lfli -a.*:  -'V<»rn 

w 

di      .     ./         1    ■ 


Ucfure  th'-  motion  U-t 

of    tlx'    I'niu 

trj'  it.<pl(.     Bn' 
i0«-.l  U|<(.u  lii 


i  (t(  tbiii  ciitit- 


■••  ;  id  fiiviT  ' 

■  Hire,   pro-  , 

^  iliu  joint  K%-  I 

■■ovwrini?  tluir  , 

:  ii«<  ill  th(t  Iiulinn  conn- 

!;i.''  th*  <ilh<T.  Willi  witljout 

for,  ad  III'  i<'n«  11^  liinisDlf,  ; 


"tl  vtv  4»voi'joil  HO  hnlv  pcntuiuU'il  of  'hi  br-i  k  w»nlutf« 
of  iltv  Hewrik)  AK«<<inlilieM  to  «:.)me  lato  Joint  attit  vii;- 
OfniH  iiiOMur>  <■  thiU  they  wor«  unwiDing  to  enter 
npu'i  the  nonaidisrfttion  of  tlif<  iv.ait«»r«."'  Hi-  id-ia 
■e- ii>     to  Imvt.    'it'll  '.■•r   1   priM:lii'»l  Uiiion  '»r  fiii»  imi!- 

iif  Ui**:!  own  dofcnuo  l<^  bo  made  h^thciu*  ' 
itjivt  if  the  0  mir.ittbC*,  w!jo  dcupttirt"'    • 
uif^vij,  wat*  for  ft  cor'*!ili'l«»i'jn  of  tl 

fffori:«s*J  by  ocl  of  i'n,' 

»*r  iti«t  wUh  f««'rt  .^<'  •► 


on 
wl 
ui 
to 
ho 

dii 


•bo  .iQiniitA  !if  l/H,  ^»U«!«f«r«nir  wigK«*»t«l  to 
th  wuii'lv  '.h'' »y«t«»«  «if  Mi'UlIiJfr  IhhiU  lu  «o^Tn- 
sh  innf«n{  fit  jjutents,  u  mciwiiio  'vbiiii.  beiiiij 
pa  i  by  then,  nipidly  iucreiwed-tb*?  {.opuIa»ir»ii  «nd 
privfu'riLy  'it  ii^f  wilouy/ 
«>      ■         St  of  Ociv'i>er,  1754,  Oovcrnior  dcT*,ac«cy 

.  ,.      ,i.»OTed  (be  cliailer  ol  FJingS  (n<>«-  (;<>liiui 
Jit  ;  ■■  '        ,  in  ujtite  of  tb«  b»ng  uid  bitter  uppoBition 
of  .ji)liyttri»a»,  led  by  Mr.  William  LidBf»i»A 

I'ilef)  wero  tht^y  agairih!  thc<  K|>i'»c()piiliin?<  «t 
thi  iiiift,  Kti'l  «o  dctt^nuiucd  ■vorc  the  tiTortu  <ti  Mf. 
Li  ir«Uju  t4)  V.,c»k  down  tbt  coilnge,  llmt,  th'H,!)j,i. 
aig  1  urn:'  nenletl,  rJie  chart<*r  wiis  not  d<>liv«'iM|  m 
coi  \i)<iTic<»  of  tht>  el»ii»or,  till  May  7th,  ITjW,  vi'iuH, 
aft  UI  inlSr***;  <«»vi>tuor  do  LAUcey  pre«n:i»t«r'^  .t  t» 
thi.  busttes  IB  tw'w  ' 

••  No  AiaertcsKft  feijiii  j£r«;i)ter  iMflueiwe  in  the  col. 
oniti  thjiri  Jfiriifcti  dw  t.feut;»*.  CircumHtnuc**,  it  i« 
tru  aiJcfl  ni  laJxirK  ■'"''  to  thJi»  «»*■  vauou  — such  mh 
edncation.  conneciio.t.-,  v^i-i.'<tU,  2.t\d  hio  bijrh  couuoi- 


^!  ii>. 


Vfttivc  principles;  '-"^  '^  '  "" 
qualiti','*,  ("crluvjw, . 
wliiy,  eHRV  of  at'oCN^,  :j\>[  u 
the  mo«t  |/.ipuUr  ruler  ihi- 
ercQ  whtin  'Iniwinpr  UgbK-- 
me.-'.'" 


li-i'  W.--  •)«..  ii  .1'  ill.!  AwukU;  urAotftUtyMh,  ' 
MB,  :'■< 

•  S"'  til'  iiior«f«iiusii  uf  I1ii»  li.ic  ■•»•.    Doe.  imi. 

«J>^.  HM.  ,■*.  t.  IV,  KBl. 

•  Pu..  Hint.  S.  f.,p.ll»7. 


I !(  to  }ipr>:o!Vil 


■  ^.  h 

.        .       :,.  .||t, 

.  »[  in  II.  '  At 

,.*J  t.       liW    f>ll:i      II    •■ 

Tl.tt  .'f  July,  iiirt).    1 
(Wiiilly  vmtlt,  in  tbu  tuitdli:  m* 
Ibo  lurieral  H«:r»ic«  *'«<ln«j  psrfoi.i.  .,  .-   -l. 

l«iir<l«y,  ill  gxtM  uiairiiiBi-.«n<.'« ;  th«  h<u)dti)K  « 
■•jil'iiididly  illutniuiit«;ii.     Tin-  :■  .iil 

iirnl  the  pr(ici'!«.Hiou  from  liin  ;  ■     -  '> 

th«)  oaurrh,  fltlod  uoluini'«  of  (hv  />upont  of  td 
Tb«  totlowin^  parti(:u>M»ar«  c<>|>iit<l  fruin 
r.Ui'.luni  wMttcu  Iiy  ib«  oMci  J"tm  Watt»». 
York,  in  IT^T: 

'■  ■••■I'*  Jl>  liWlTOjr  >•••■■  •■..■■  ■"    ol ■..    •'    ■  •••-     .'  ■••":> 

frum  i!i'.  !»•  ii'  n^rioiltnio.  mul  »i  i'Ut(«'il,  ;'lMutiiii  ■  ii«»»(iat.;  ii—  • 
tarnljr  iiit)  *  in  uii..  ^iw i  't  •-.«..  i  .>  hiv'i.I  Mi.lrh  ftiiiuU*  I. 
i(ukk  !»nr<)t*Hnn     •  l,it<  •..vi''  ■iiumI  ««  ivMtaf 

iflUii*  trt  '*!•■        Ht       "..  »       .!,■  '  '.-tk"*       '     r**.>vi 

i«».<'  'l.»   wf    111-    < 


i:  it..  5..I1  .u>  U...V--  iMv'i.  ;S;    »»'.!,  .u  i!,-«  Wv  uiilUj!  »•' 

.       ■«*'»»  iilb««  Mir  i-inl  w.'/iilt«|iatr.bi«l  to  111!  Hi- 'iJinw- 

.  ;l,'    )  iiMiuutKl  Inif-niirt' «i.1  Itiirrial  lohUIipuwln  IViWHty  ■ 

•r.  fli'  «»ji  *•*  \liinn.Hl  ly  ^  r»U  'tlijt  *ll  ww  i*^4,'  »t«l  W 

liij*  I  (vMur^  ii.;  hoWnfilii»il  ri>  !•'»  ..b-  .m  II  In.  thi' ottii-r 

■^itgti^  hlmniKuvfTthi- iMwi.  ».  t  «W  I  i)<ii  >i'r4i 

Ajr       "      " -..!-.    »  .  I.  .  :     ,.    .^ 

iiUi*. -.i-.  ••■  "..•  ■  ■  -f-        —    ■'        ■■-  'H^'     >'»>  •  ••■       -• 
ixbcKi  "Uth  «  •ii«c«n<<!»,  «  <IM     -  n^tlte  »wi  *  vh  »»  'npn-^u  ..    TM 
iJ  .It  ii(^c*'  !'•«  »lii>ijii»»r  i  iltuuk  rf  It;  to  '  «u  »iirii  II  <«in|iiiiik>n,  i'kK 
«  ui'VWntiwv  «H&  •  trkMI.''         ^ 

■  /-ariciiy  married  asi  alxi.-ii  .natiHi,  ,\ 
i.iitnr  aud  i;*>-heir«'»i«  of  the  Uon.  *'. 
"iti'^tfttCTJv,  Lord  of  the  Manor  of  Sciinnlale.    ft; 
:  h*  W.I  frill r  Honi«;-tiribt,   Jauics ;   »oi.oiul,  HtH|"* 
;  rrtiW;    tfWltlicotft;    fourth,    .Joliu  Peicr ;    aud 
'  :i.'iii|{ivit".n<;  iirnt,  Mary,  wiic  of  VVillimn  Wflltno,  viLo 
UWl  J»  Ittj"  :  iH'Cor.d,SuiiannAh,  horo  tStUNovemlnsr, 
17«I7,  diwl  a  Bpinater  in  1S13 ;  third,  Ann<»,  born  T'4«. 
and  dl'.'d  in  18i7,  wbomarrii'd  '" 
ofthr  Htiprouio  t^'wr'   ■■<'  *<;  • 
History  of  Ncv.  -  onjkri-  \\ .. 

ajiii  Marrhs  wh.  ,  .»  -J  i'.i,  in  17^0. 

.fiujieK  l><i  r.*'  ♦»«  ofihc  Lifuteuant' 

ttovfrr  ..;4  uic  head  of  thp  )H,i!i!:    -» 

!!:?■"•  iiuiu  his  father's  dea»- 

■.lid  it'»  leader  in  the  Aaaembly  «t 
-i    ::  luriod,  August  17th,  1771.  Miirg..    . 
.i)*ihdphia,  daughter  of  William  Allen, 
•'  '■>{'  Piuiuaylviioia,  wUose  sisti-r  v»hi«  the 
,      ernur  .John  I'lniu  of  that  Pro/ince.     Ilie 
iftt*  Mrs,  lltirry  Walter iUyiugftou  (born  Mary  All«i»> 
"'.i&  in  IS-W,  was  a  nitiee  of  tt-iwe  t'vo  gk-   • 
.     k  Laiivay  bad  two  ftoim,  Charlw  fu  fai!> 
iinti«h  naval  o(lli)e;^«Bd  Jitfiaei,  Jy^ut'Colont 


'  i'l'jl' 


4 


Yjt^rtM*i  WJ  '-  Buttr« 


ran ■anm  <Hm.mi.Uka  BCi&iraKcairi  m  iuHciv.[ii.ii,iiLJi.raix.L. 


fl.-SlUV  OF  WESTmN  .VKW  YCB-K 

Ia3» IB(>5 


MAMARONECK. 


tt 


the  First  Dragoon  Guards;  both  died  bachelors,  the 
former  May  6th,  1840,  and  the  latter  May  26th,  1857  ; 
and  three  daughters,  Margaret,  married  July  17th, 
1794,  Sir  Jiikes  Granville  Clifton  Jukes,  Bart,  and 
died  June  11th,  1804  without  leaving  children ;  Anna 
and  Susan  who  both  died  spinsters,  the  first,  August 
10th,  1851,  and  the  last  April  7th,  1866. 

Stephen  the  second  son  of  Lieutenant-Governor  de 
Laiicey  was  the  proprietor  of  what  is  now  the  town  of 
North  Salem  in  this  county,  which  came  to  his  father 
as  part  of  his  share  in  the  Manor  of  Oortlandt,  which 
town  Stephen  de  Lancey  settled.  He  built  a  large 
double  dwelling,  which  he  subsequently  gave  to  the 
town  for  .'■•■  Academy  which  is  still  in  existence.'  He 
married  Hannah  Sackett,  daughter  of  Kev.  Joseph 
Sackett  of  Crom  Pond  and  died  without  issue  May 
6th,  1795.  Heuthcote,  the  third  son  of  the  Lieuten- 
ant-Governor, died  young  before  his  father. 

John  Peter  de  Lancey,  the  fourth  son  of  Lt.  Gov- 
ernor de  Lancey,  was  born  in  the  city  of  New  York, 
July  15th,  1763,  and  died  at  Mamaroncck,  January 
30th,  1828.  He  was  educated  in  Harrow  school  in 
England,  and  at  the  military  school  at  Greenwich. 
In  1771,  he  entered  the  regular  army  as  Ensign,  and 
served  up  to  the  rank  of  captain  in  the  18th,  or  Royal 
Irish  Regiment  of  Foot.  He  was,  also,  for  a  time  by 
special  permission,  Major  of  the  Pennsylvania  Loyal- 
ists, commanded  by  Col.  William  Allen. 

He  received  the  Heathcote  estates  of  his  mother, 
in  the  Manor  of  Scarsdale;  and  having  retired  from 
a  military  life,  in  1789  returned  to  America  and  re- 
sided at  Mamaroneck.  He  built  a  new  house,  still 
standing  on  Heathcote  Hill,  the  site  of  hia  grandfather 
Heathcote's  great  brick  manor-house,  which  was  ac- 
cidentally burnt  several  years  prior  to  the  Revolu- 
tion. He  married  28th  September,  1785,  Elizabeth 
Floyd,  daughter  of  Col.  Richard  Floyd  of  Mastic, 
Suflblk  County,  the  head  of  that  old  Long  Island 
family,  and  had  three  sons  and  five  daughters.  The 
sons  were,  1.  Thomas  James,  a  lawyer,  who  died  in 
1822,  at  the  earTy  age  of  32,  leaving  by  his  wife  Mary, 
daughter  of  Thomas  Ellison,  an  only  child,  a  son, 
also  named (Thomua  Jiimes.Jwho  married  Frances 
Augusta  Bibby,  and  died  in  1859,  without  having  had 
issue.  2.  Edward  Floyd,  born  18th  June,  1795  and 
died  a  bachelor,  19th  October  1820,  S.  William 
Heathcote,  born  8th  October,  1797,  at  Mamaroneck, 
and  died  at  Geneva,  New  York,  April  5,  1865,  the 
late  Bishop  of  Western  New  York. 

The  daughters  were  five  in  number.  1.  Anne 
Charlotte,  born  17th  September,  1786,  married  10th 
December,  1827;  John  Loudon  McAdam,  the  cele- 
brated originiitor  of  McAdamized  roads,"  and  died  at 
Hoddesdon,  in  England,  29th  May,  1862,  without  is- 


>  See  Town  of  North  Salem. 

<  She  was  hia  eeconJ  wife.  Hi§  first  wife  wu  Qloriannu  Nicnll  of 
Saffolk  County,  Long  lalaml;  a  lint  coniin uf  Hn.  John  Petordo  Lancey, 
the  mother  of  hia  aecond  wifu. 


sue.    2.  Susan  Augusta,  wife  of  James  Fenimore 

I  Cooper,  the  eminent  American  Author,  born  28th 

January.  1792,  married  1st  January,  1811,'  and  died 

20th  of  January,   1852.      3.    Maria  Frances,   born 

August  3d,  1793 ;    died   17th  of  January,  1806.    4. 

Elizabeth  Caroline,  born  4th  March,  1801,  and  died, 

!  single,  25th   February,   1860.    6.  Martha    Arabella, 

born  lOlh  January,  1803,  who  died  in  May  1882. 

William  Heathcote  de  Lancey,  the  first  Bishop  of 

I  Western  New   York,  was  born   at   Heathcote  Hill, 

Mamaroneck,  October  8th,  1797. 

After  attending  school  at  Mamaroneck,  and  then 
at  New  Rochelle,  where  his  teacher  was  Mr.  Waite, 
father  of  the  present  Chief  Justice  Waite  of  the  Su- 
preme Court  of  the  United  States,  he  was  sent  to  the 
academy  of  the  Rev.  Mr.  Hart,  at  Hempstead,  L.  I., 
:  and  on  the  death  of  that  gentleman,  was  transferred 
at  the  suggestion  of  his  father's  personal  friend,  the 
Hon.  Rufus  King,  to  that  of  the  Rev.  Dr.   Eigen- 
bi'odt,  at  Jamaica.    Entering  Yale  College  in   1813, 
[  Mr.  de  Lancey  graduated  in  1817,  and  at  once  com- 
•  inenced  the  study  of  theology  with   the  celebrated 
j  Biihop  Hobiirt,  as  a  private  student.    Ho  was  or- 
dained a  deacon  by  that  prelate  on  the  28th  of  De- 
!  cember,  1819,  and  a  priest  on  March  6th,  1822. 
I      Mr.de  Lancey  married  on  lhe22dof  November,  1820, 
!  Frances,  third  daughter  of  Peter  Jay  Munro,  of  New 
!  York,  and  of  Mamaroneck,  the  distinguished  lawyer, 
onlychild  of  the  Rev.  Dr.  Harry  Munro,  the  last  English 
Rector  of  St.  Peter's  church,  Albany,  N.  Y.,  by  his 
third  wife,  Eve  Jay,  daughter  of  Peter  Jay,  the  first 
of  that  nar  •2  in  Rye,  (one  of  whose  younger  brothers 
was  Chief  Justice  John  Jay)  by  his  wife  Margaret, 
daughter  of  the  Hon.  Henry  White,  of  the  Council  of 
the  Province  of  New  York,  and  his  wife  Eve  Van 
Cortlandt,  of  Yonkers. 

While  a  divinity  student  Mr.  de  Lancey  held  the 
first  services  of  the  Episcopal  Church  in  Mamaro- 
neck; and  with  the  aid  of  his  father,  John  Peter  de 
Lancey  and  Peter  Jay  Munro,  who  were  its  first 
wardens,  founded  the  Parish  of  St.  Thomas  in  that 
village. 

After  serving  for  short  periods  as  deacon  iu  Trinity 
church,  and  in  Grace  church.  New  York,  he  was  in- 
vited by  the  venerable  Bishop  White  of  Pennsylvania 
to  be  his  personal  assistant  in  the  "  Three  United 
Churches"  of  Christ  church,  St.  Peter's,  and  8t 
James  in  Philadelphia,  of  which  he  was  also  the  Rec- 
tor. Mr.  de  Lancey  accepted  this  position  and  re- 
moved to  Philadelphia,  where  he  continued  to  reside 
in  the  closest  and  most  confidential  relations  with 
Bishop  White,  until  the  death  in  1836,  of  that  great 
and  venerable  prelate,  the  first  Bishop  of  the  Ameri- 
can Church,  consecrated  by  Anglican  Bishops. 

During  this  period,  in  1827,  in  his  thirtieth  year, 
Mr.  de  Lancey  was  chosen  Provost  of  the  University 


'  Thia  marriage  i 
Heathcote  Bill. 


I  aolemnized  in  the  hoaae  of  Mr.  de  Lancey,  at 


MAMARONECK. 


of  Pennsylvania,  that  old  "  College  in  Philadelphia" 
founded  by  Benjamin  Franklin ;  and  also  received 
the  degree  of  D.D.,  from  his  Alma  Mater,  Yale  Col- 
lege— being  the  youngest  man  upon  whom,  up  to  that 
time,  she  had  conferred  that  honor.  He  remained 
in  the  Provostship  five  years,  having  brought  the 
University  up  to  a  very  flourishing  condition,  when 
he  resigned  to  resume  his  profession  and  was  elected 
assistant  minister  of  St.  Peter's  church,  Philadelphia, 
with  the  reversion  of  the  Rectorship  upon  the  death 
of  Bishop  White. 

That  event  occurring  in  1836,  Dr.  de  Lancey  then 
became  Rector  of  St.  Peter's  and  remained  such  until 
1839,  when,  upon  the  division  of  the  State  of  New 
York  into  two  Dioceses,  he  was  elected  Bishop  of 
that  p:;r»  of  the  State,  west  of  Utica,  and  consecrated 
Bishop  of  Western  New  York,  at  Auburn,  May  itth, 
1839,  and  took  up  his  residence  at  Geneva  in  Ontario 
County,  a  town  nearly  in  the  centre  of  the  new  Dio- 
cese the  same  year. 

After  a  long,  distinguished  and  successful  episcopate 
of  twenty -seven  years,  Bishoj)  de  Lancey  died  in  his 
own  house  in  Geneva,  on  the  5th  of  April,  ISeS,  in  the 
sixty-eighth  year  of  his  age.  "  In  him,"  said  a  writer 
of  the  day,  "  the  Church  in  America  loses  the  further 
services  of  one  of  her  oldest  and  wisest  Bishops.  De- 
scended from  one  of  the  oldest  and  best  families  in 
this  country — which  dates  far  back  in  our  colonial 
history,  and  was  from  the  first  one  of  the  staunchest 
pillars  of  the  Church — Bishop  de  Lancey  had  also  the 
good  fortune  to  be  personally  connected  with  the 
leading  minds  in  our  American  branch  of  the  Church 
Catholic.  After  studying  for  holy  orders  under 
Bishop  Hobart,  and  being  ordained  by  him  both 
Deacon  and  Priest,  he  became  assistant  to  the  vener- 
able Bishop  White,  and  continued  in  the  closest  and 
most  confidential  intercourse  with  him  to  his  death 
in  1836.  *  *  »  During  his  connection  with 
the  Diocese  of  Pennsylvania,  he  filled  numerous  posts 
of  dignity  and  useful  service,  among  which  were  the 
Provostship  of  the  University  of  Pennsylvania,  the 
Secretaryship  of  the  House  of  Bishops,  and  of  the 
Pennsylvania  Convention ;  his  activity,  high  charac- 
ter and  living  influence,  were  inferior  to  those  of  no 
other  Priest  in  the  Diocese.  This  early  promise  was 
not  disappointed,  but  abundantly  fulfilled,  in  his 
career  as  the  first  Bishop  of  Western  New  York.  He 
was  one  of  the  men  whom  nature  had  marked  out  for 
a  ruler  among  his  fellows.  With  sound  principles, 
earnest  devotion,  personal  gravity,  and  spotless  purity 
of  life,  he  possessed  a  clearness  of  head,  a  keen  knowl- 
edge of  human  nature,  and  a  coolness,  caution,  readi- 
ness, and  boldness,  which  all  combined  in  making 
him  a  successful  Bishop.  His  skill  in  debate  was  re- 
markable, and  was  fully  equalled  by  his  mastery  of  all 
the  resourcesof  parliamentary  tactics, either  for  carry- 
ing a  measure  which  he  favored,  or  defeating  one  to 
which  he  was  opposed.  His  vigilance  and  unflinching 
tenacity  were  fully  on  a  par  with  his  other  qualities; 


and  yet  his  courtesy  and  gentlemanly  bearing,  together 
with  a  pleasant  touch  of  humor,  so  lubricated  the 
friction  of  every  contest,  that  no  undue  heat  remained 
on  either  side  when  the  struggle  was  over.  No  higher 
testimony  could  be  given  to  the  manner  in  whi'ih  he 
discharged  his  high  office,  than  the  fact  of  great  and 
steady  growth  in  his  Diocese,  together  with  a  main- 
tenance of  an  internal  harmony,  unity  and  peace,  such 
as  no  one  of  our  great  Dioceses  has  been  able  to  equal, 
much  less  surpass ;  nor  was  he  ever  the  subject  of 
systematic  attack  from  outside  of  hisown  jurisdiction. 
But  his  care  was  not  limited  to  his  own  immediate 
charge.  While  Hobart  College,  and  De  Veaux  Col- 
lege, and  the  Theological  Training  School,  and  other 
flourishing  Church  schools,  manifest  his  power  of 
organization  and  maintenance,  and  his  success  in 
rallying  aid  by  means  of  the  confidence  which  his 
personal  and  otficial  character  inspired,  he  never  ne- 
glected the  General  Institutions  of  the  Church.  Not 
only  in  General  Convention  was  he  one  of  the  strong 
men  of  the  Upper  House;  but  in  the  Board  of  Mis- 
sions, in  the  Church  Book  Society,  in  the  General 
Theological  Seminary,  he  has  been  among  the  fore- 
most, sometimes  the  one  of  all  others  to  lead  the  way 
at  critical  moments,  and  to  sound  the  call  to  which 
others  were  glad  to  rally.  His  clear-sightedness,  in- 
deed, sometimes  made  him  a  little  in  advance  of  his 
time;  and  no  truer  proof  of  wisdom  could  be  given  by 
a  tenacious  man  than  the  promptness  with  which  he 
dropped  a  subject  when  satisfied  that  it  was  not  yet 
ripe  for  action.  One  case  of  this  kind  was  in  regard 
to  the  General  Theological  Seminary,  which  he  fore- 
saw must  sooner  or  later  change  its  form  from  a  gen- 
eral to  a  local  institution ;  and  about  twenty  years 
ago  he  proposed  it  in  the  Board.  The  proposal  failed, 
and  was  not  renewed.  The  time  for  that  change  is 
much  nearer  now  than  it  was  then,  and  the  shape 
which  it  will  take,  will  probably  be  different  in  some 
important  respects  from  Bishop  de  Lancey's  ideas  at 
that  time.'  But  his  foresight  as  to  the  coming  change 
will  continue  on  record.  Another  and  still  more  im- 
portant subject  was  also  introduced  first  by  him  into 
General  Convention — the  adoption  of  the  Provincial 
System.  Bishop  White,  indeed,  had  sketched  out  the 
plan  long  before,  and  he  had  taken  it  from  the  uni- 
versal system  of  the  Church  in  all  ages  and  countries ; 
but  Bishop  de  Lancey  was  the  first  to  propose  it, 
formally,  to  the  Legislature  of  the  Church.  The 
time  had  not  come;  and  the  Bishop  wisely  let  it  sleep 
thereafter ;  but  here,  as  before,  the  proof  of  his  fore- 
sight as  to  the  approaching  and  certain  needs  of  the 
Church  is  written  in  the  records  of  her  institutions. 
Bishops  of  more  brilliance  in  some  departments,  of 
more  moving  eloquence,  of  more  sympathetic  temper- 
aments, of  more  personal  popularity,  of  more  rapid 
visible  success,  we  may  behold ;  but  a  Bishop  more 

>  The  change  did  not  com*  till  about  flfteen  or  alxtean  jean  after 
BUbop  de  L.'i  death,  when  the  Seminary  waa  totally  reorganlied  aa  it 
now  Is. 


MAMARONECK. 


23 


sagacious,  more  steady,  more  true,  in  laying  the 
foundations  of  the  Church,  liice  a  wise  muster-builder, 
we  never  expect  to  see." 

John  Peter  De  Lancey  by  will  (dated  28th  of  Janu- 
ary, 1823)  devised  his  property  in  this  town  to  Thomas 
James  De  Lancey,  the  only  child  of  his  deceased  son 
Thomas  James,  and  to  his  son  William  Heathcote  De 
Lancey  the  Bishop  of  Western  New  York  (except  a 
portion  of  the  western  end  of  De  Lancey's  Neck  which 
he  had  conveyed  in  his  life^time  to  his  deceased  son 
Thomas  James,  who  had  devised  the  same  to  his  only 
child  Thomas  James  the  younger).  All  the  property 
of  Thomas  James  the  younger  lay  upon  the  western 
part  of  de  Lancey's  Neck.  The  eastern  part  of  that 
Neck,  the  Heathcote  Hill  tract,  and  sedge  lots,  with  the 
other  lands  of  John  Peter  de  Lancey  in  Mamaroneck 
passed  to  the  late  Bishop  dejLancey,  who  devised  the 
same  to  his  four  surviving  children,  Edward  Floyd. 
John  Peter,  William  Heathcote,  Jr.,  and  Margaret, 
wife  of  Thomas  F.  Rochester,  M.D.  The  Heatlicote 
Hill  estate  was  devised  to  them  equally,  and  subse- 
(juently  by  purchase  of  the  shares  of  his  brothers  and 
sister  became  the  sole  property  of  Edward  Floyd  de 
Lancey,  the  present  proprietor.  Thomas  James  de 
Lancey,  the  younger,  sold  his  part  of  de  Lancey's 
Neck  in  his  lifetime,  and  it  is  now  held  by  many 
owners.  The  eastern  part,  has  now  been  sold 
by  the  children  of  Bishop  de  Lancey  except  the 
extreme  south-eastern  part,  the  country  seat  of  Ed- 
ward F.  de  Lancey. 

Peter  de  Lancey,  second  son  of  Etienne  de  Lancey 
the  Huguenot,  prominent  in  the  affairs  of  the 
Province,  Member  of  Assembly  from  Westchester  for 
many  years,  and  High  Sheriff  was  born  2G  August, 
1705,  and  died  17  October,  1770;  he  married  Eliza- 
beth daughter  of  Gov.  Cadwallader  Colden  Jan.  7th 
1737-8  and  had  issue  twelve  children.  1.  Stephen  a 
lawyer,  Kecorder  of  Albany,  and  Clerk  of  Tryon 
County ;  2.  John  succeeded  his  father  as  Member 
for  Westchester  and  was  also  High  Sheriff  of  the 
County,  married  Miss  Wickham  and  had  an  only 
child  a  daughter  who  was  the  wife  of  the  Hon. 
Christopher  Yates,  Chief  Justice  and  Governor  of  the 
State  of  New  York.  3.  Peter  a  lawyer  of  Charleston, 
S.  C.  4.  Anne  wife  of  John  Coxe  of  Philadelphia.  5. 
Alice,  wife  of  Balph  Izard  of  S.  C.  Delegate  to  the 
Continental  Congress  from  South  Carolina,  1780  to 
1783,  U.  S.  Commissioner  to  Tuscany  in  1777,  and  U. 
S.  Senator  from  S.  C.  1789  to  1795.  (i.  Elizabeth  died 
single;  7.  James  High  Sheriff  of  Westchester  at  and 
for  several  years  preceding  the  outbreak  of  the 
American  Revolution,  Colonel  of  the  Westchester 
Light  Horse,  the  alert  ar.d  famous  Partisan  Chief  of 
the  Neutral  Ground  in  the  war  of  the  Revolution, 
Member  of  the  Council  of  Nova  Scotia,  died  May  2d, 
1804  at  his  residence  Willow  Park,  near  Annapolis, 
Nova  Scotia,  aged  58  years  ;  8.  Oliver,  of  Westfarms, 
Lieutenant  in  the  Brititii  Navy,  resigned  because  he 
would  not  fight  against  hia  native  laud  in  the  Revolu- 


tion, died  at  Westchester  4th  Sept.  1820 ;  9.  Susanna 
wife  of  Col.  Thomas  Barclay  and  mother  of  Henry, 
de  Lancey,  Thomas,  George,  and  Sir  Anthony  Bar- 
clay, and  Beverly  Barclay,  and  of  Eliza  wife  of 
Schuyler  Livingston,  Maria  wife  of  Simon  Eraser, 
and  Susan,  first  wife  of  the  late  Peter  G.  Stuy- 
vesant  of  New  York,  and  Ann  wife  of  William  H. 
Parsons  of  that  city ;  10.  Jane  wife  of  her  cousin  the 
Hon.  John  Watts  Jr,  for  a  time  first  Judge  of  West- 
chester County,  and  afterwards  Recorder  of  New 
York;  11.  Warren,  drowned  by  accident,  a  child;  12. 
Warren,  made  a  cornet  of  Horse  for  his  gallantry  at 
the  battle  of  White-plains  at  the  age  of  15,  he  having 
run  away  from  his  mother's  house  at  West-farms  to 
join  the  British  Army;  afterwards  of  New  York,  and 
subsequently  of  Madison  County  New  York,  where  he 
left  descendants. 

Oliver  de  Lancey,  the  youngest  of  the  sons  of  the 
Huguenot,  and  the  third  of  them  who  left  issue,  born 
16th  Sept.  1718,  died  at  Beverly,  Yorkshire,  England, 
27th  Nov.  1785,  a  merchant  of  New  York,  but  more 
prominent  in  Public  life,  was  Colonel  of  the  Forces, 
and  Receiver-General,  of  the  Province  of  New  York 
for  many  years ;  Member  of  Assembly  for  the  City 
from  1756  to  1760;  Member  of  the  Governor's  Council 
from  1760  to  1783  ;  commander  of  the  Forces  of  the 
Province  in  the  French  War,  and  as  such  present  at 
the  Repulse  of  Ticonderoga;  commander  of  the  De- 
partment of  Long  Island  during  the  whole  Revolu- 
tionary War,  for  which  he  raised  a  brigade  of  three 
Regiments  called  "  De  Lancey's  Battalions  "  of  which 
he  was  the  Brigadier-General.  Married  Phila  Franks 
of  Philadelphia  in  1742,  and  had  issue  two  sons  and 
four  daughters ;  1.  Stephen,  a  lawyer  born  1748,  died 
6  Dec.  1798  at  Portsmouth  N.  IL,  Lt.  Col.  of  one  of 
his  Father's  Battalions,  after  the  war  Chief  Justice 
of  the  Bahamas,  and  Governor  of  Tobago, 
married  Cornelia  daughter  of  Rector  Barclay  of 
Trinity  church,  N.  Y.,  had  one  son.  Sir  William  Howe 
de  Lancey,  K.  C.  B.  (iuarter-Master-General  of  Wel- 
lington's Army  in  1815,  who  was  killed  at  Waterloo. 
The  daughters  of  Gov^  Stephen,  were,  1.  Susan,  mar- 
ried 1st  Col.  Wm.  Johnson  eldest  son  of  Sir  .lohn 
Johnson,  Bart.,  and  2d  General  Sir  Hudson  Lowe,  K. 
C.  B.  Governor  of  St.  Helena  during  the  captivity  of 
Napoleon  the  Great.  Charlotte  her  only  daughter  by 
Col.  Johnson  married  Count  Balmain,  the  Russian 
Commissioner  at  St.  Helena  ;  2.  Phila  died,  single,  3. 
Anne  married  Wm.  Lawson  of  the  Island  of  Berbice, 
4.  Charlotte  married  Col.  Child  of  the  British  Army. 

2.  Oliver  De  Lancey  the  second  son  of  Brigadier 
General  Oliver,  (often  confounded  in  histories  and 
other  writings  with  his  Father)  entered  the  British 
Regular  Army,  as  Cornet  in  the  17th  Light  Dragoons, 
a  youth,  several  years  prior  to  the  American  Revolu- 
tion. He  succeeded  Andre  (being  then  a  Major)  in 
1780  as  Adjutant-General  of  the  British  Army  in 
America.  In  1 794  was  made  Colonel  of  his  Regiment 
in  succession  to  the  Duke  of  Newcastle,  and  Barrack 


a 


MAMARONECK. 


Muster  Geiienil  of  the  Empire  ii  year  or  two  lutcr. 
Died  unmarried,  Colonel  of  his  Keginient  and  a  full 
Qeneralin  the  Ilritish  Army  in  1820. 

The  Daughters  of  Brigadier-General  Oliver  de 
Lanccy  were,  1.  Susanna  wife  of  General  Sir  Wm. 
Draper,  the  conqueror  of  Manilla,  and  the  opponent 
of  "Junius."  2.  Phila  wife  of  Stei)hen  Payne-Qalwey 
of  the  Island  of  Antigua,  3.  Anna  wife  of  Col.  John 
Harris  Cruger,  the  gallantdefendcrof  Fort  Ninety  Six 
in  Carolina,  Member  of  the  Council  of  the  Province 
of  New  York,  and  as  such  certified  to  the  correctness 
and  legality  of  the  final  Partition  of  the  Heathcote  es- 
tate in  the  Manor  of  Scarsdale  in  1774.  4.  Charlotte 
wife  of  Field  ]\[arshall  Sir  David  Dundas  K.  C.  B. 
who  succeeded  the  Duke  of  York  iis  commander-in- 
chief  of  the  British  Army. 

All  the  usual  stores  and  markets,  and  conveniences 
of  living  are  to  be  found  in  Mamaroneck,  and  of  a 
class  and  grade  not  exceeded  by  any  other  village  in 
the  County.  Divided  from  the  villiige  of  Rye  Neck 
only  by  the  Mamaroneck  river  with  a  free  bridge 
across  it,  the  latter  has  drawn  ofl"  a  large  portion  of 
the  population  naturally  belonging  to  Mamaroneck 
which  is  the  post  town  for  both,  and  has  nuide  prac- 
tically both  places  one  except  in  voting.  Hence  too 
the  different  societies  of  all  kinds  found  in  an  Amer- 
ican town,  social,  charitable,  musical,  mechanical, 
and  to  some  extent  religious  have  their  headquarters 
in  Rye  Neck  and  will  be  found  described  in  the 
Chapter  on  Rye. 

The  village  of  Manuironeck  until  within  the  last 
few  years  has  suffered,  from  and  Rye  Neck  has  been 
benefited  by,  a  singular  cause  as  far  as  growth  is 
concerned.  In  1811  under  a  special  act  of  the  Leg- 
islature was  incorporated  "  The  Westchester  County 
Manufacturing  Society."  '  The  Act  gave  this  corpo 
ration  power  to  purchase,  hold,  and  convey,  lands 
and  tenements,  goods,  wares,  and  merchandise  what- 
soever necessary  to  theobjectaof  this  incorporation." 
Under  this  sweeping  clause  it  bought  two  farms  on 
the  Mamaroneck  side  of  the  river  belonging  to  Gil- 
bert Budd,  a  most  honorable  and  respected  man,  one 
called  the  "  Hadley  "  farm  of  about  fi2  acres,  the 
other  the  "Homestead"  of  about  182  acres,  or  to- 
gether 244  acres.  This  was  all  the  land  in  the  imme- 
diate neighbourhood  of  the  mouth  of  the  river  on  its 
west  side  and  the  village  upon  which  the  latter  could 
grow.  The  company  built  a  large  dam  and  factory. 
But  after  a  moderate  success  for  a  few  years  it  ended 
in  failure,  and  from  that  time  till  1870  it  was  followed 
by  a  long  succession  of  unsuccessful  enterprises  of  a 
manufacturing  character  each  in  turn  succumbing  to 
failure,  or  forced  sale.  The  consojuence  was  that  the 
title  to  the  property  became  so  involve<l,  embarrassed, 
and  confused,  that  faith  was  lost  in  it.  The  land  be- 
came unsaleable,  and  it  remained  practically  dead  to 
the  great  detriment  of  the  village  in  every  respect. 


>  Cb,  IT  UWB  of  IHll. 


About  1870  began  a  change,  and  now  it  is  understood 
that  the  clouds  are  entirely  dispersed.  As  soon  as  this 
was  found  to  be  really  the  ease,  village  improvement 
bc'iin  at  once,  and  is  now  going  on  with  increasing 
r:      lity. 

.  imaroaeck  was  without  a  newspaper  until  four 
years  ago,  its  local  wants  being  supplied  by  the 
neighbouring  Journals  of  Rye  and  Portchester.  In 
May  1882,  The  Mamaroneck  Register  was  established 
by  William  E.  Peters,  met  with  very  fair  success  and 
is  still  in  existence  under  him  as  Editor  and  Propri- 
etor. It  is  a  four  page  paper,  of  six  columns  to  a 
page,  and  is  issued  every  Wednesday.  It  pursues  an 
independent  course  in  politics.  Several  years  prior 
to  1882  an  attempt  was  made  to  publish  a  paper 
called  the  JnvesHtjator  by  George  M.  Forbes. 
But  it  met  with  no  success,  and  after  a  brief  exist- 
ence, was  given  up. 

About  1856  an  attempt  to  run  a  steamer  called  the 
Island  City,  between  Mamaroneck  and  New  York  was 
made,  stopping  at  New  Rochelle  and  City  Island,  and 
carrying  both  passengers  and  freight.  The  leading 
man  in  the  enterprise  was  the  late  John  Griffin.  Her 
landing  place  was  at  the  foot  of  Bleecker  now 
Union  Avenue  in  De  Lancey's  Neck,  Bishop  de  Lan- 
cey  who  owned  the  spot  having  at  the  request  of  Mr. 
Griffin  and  the  other  gentlemen  obtained  a  grant  per- 
mitting the  building  of  a  Dock  below  low  water  mark 
at  that  point,  and  leased  them  the  privilege  at  a  nominal 
rent.  The  enterprise  failed,  was  subsequently  re- 
newed by  Wm.  Taylor  with  a  landing  on  Harbor 
Island,  but  that  also  failed.  The  "Mary  E.  Gordon." 
freight  boat  only,  was  built  by  Capt.  Gedney,  the  old 
sloop  owner  in  1880,  and  makes  trips  three  times  a 
week.  Her  owners  arc  Captain  Joseph  H.  Gedney  and 
sons.  She  is  the  first  boat  that  has  brought  freight 
regularly  to  the  present  dock,  and  is  the  modern  suc- 
cessor of  a  very  long  line  of  "  Mamaroneck  Sloops." 
Famous  vessels  in  their  day  were  those  Mamaroneck 
sloops,  and  their  day  was  a  very  long  one. 

Some  of  them  were  very  fast,  and  there  was  a  fierce 
rivalry  between  the  old  sloop  captains  of  all  the 
ports  on  the  sound  as  far  as  New  London.  They 
carried  passengers  regularly  as  well  as  freight,  and 
great  was  the  excitement,  and  often  high  the  betting, 
when  a  new  and  fust  vessel  made  her  first  appearance 
from  any  of  the  little  ports  on  the  "East  River." 

The  necessity  of  having  a  fire  department  was 
forced  upon  the  attention  of  the  inhabitants  of  Mam- 
aroneck by  a  conflagration  which  took  place  in  the 
business  part  of  the  villugc  on  Junuary  1st,  1884. 
Soon  after  a  Hook  and  Ladder  Company  was  formed, 
known  as  Union  Hook  and  Ladder  Company,  No.  1,  of 
Mamaroneck  and  Rye  Neck.  Joseph  H.  McLough- 
lin,  a  very  active  man  and  the  leading  plumber  of 
the  town,  was  elected  foreman  of  the  company,  An- 
drew Coles,  assistant  foreman,  Lewis  R.  Bramm, 
Treasurer,  and  Charles  F.  Seaman,  Secretary.  The 
aiqiaratus  wtis  purchased  by  public  subscription,  aud 


MAMARONECK. 


is  lodged  in  the  basement  of  the  town  hall.    The 
number  of  members  in  188*5  was  2-"). 

On  January  4,  1881,  application  was  made  to  the 
autiiorities  of  the  town  of  jVIamaroncck  by  Henry  M. 
Flagler,  Jabez  A.  Uostwick,  Ambrose  M.  McGregor, 
James  M.  Conntable,  Thomas  L.  Rushmore,  William 
G.  Read,  David  Dudley  Field,  David  F.  Britt,  Joseph 
Hoti'man,  M.D.,  ISamuel  W.  Johnson,  Edward  F.  De 
Laneey,  Charles  J.  Osborne,  William  T.  Cornell  and 
Leonard  Jacob  for  authority  to  form  and  organize 
the  Mamaroneck  Water  Company  and  lay  pipes 
through  the  town  streets.  The  application  was 
granted,  the  company  was  formed  and  soon  after 
began  the  construction  of  a  water  works,  and  in  the 
spring  of  188o  water  was  introduced  through  their 
pipes  into  houses  in  the  village.  The  company  has 
a  capital  of  $25,000.  The  source  from  which  the 
water  sup|)ly  is  taken  is  the  Mamaroneck  River. 
The  site  of  the  old  saw  mill  originally  erected  by 
Colonel  Ileathcote  before  referred  to,  was  bought,  the 
dam  rebuilt  in  an  enlarged  form  forming  a  large 
pond,  the  waters  of  which  are  pumped  up  into  a 
reservoir  on  adjacent  high  ground,  about  117  feet 
above  high  water  mark  of  the  sound.  This  head  is 
sufticient  for  all  general  purjmses.  The  officers  of 
the  company  are,  President,  James  M.  Constable; 
Treasurer,  J.  A.  Bostwick;  Secretary,  William  T. 
Cornell. 

There  are  two  School  Districts  in  Mamaroneck, 
Nos.  Olio  and  Two,  well  attended  and  in  a  good  state 
of  efficiency.  But  they  sulfer  as  does  the  whole 
school  system  of  the  State  of  New  York,  from  being 
one  of  the  foot  balls  of  politics,  and  like  all  others 
throughout  the  State  are  therefore  liable  to  evil  in- 
fluences. An  instance  of  how  oppressive  and  unjust 
the  School  system  as  now  administered  is,  upon  the 
owners  of  the  real  estate  of  the  Commonwealth,  is 
furnished  now  by  our  County  of  Westchester.  The 
writer  is  informed  that  the  amount  apportioned  to 
this  County  this  year,  188(),  from  the  Common  School 
Fund  is  $i')6,000  while  the  amount  assessed  upon  and 
collected  from  its  real  estate  last  year  for  that  fund 
was  $75,000.  No  renmrks  are  necessary,  the  fact 
speaks  for  itself. 

The  Town  possesses  a  Town  Hall,  a  large  frame 
edifice  on  High  Street  :  ear  Mount  Pleasant  Street, 
which  was  bought  and  altered  for  its  present  pur- 
pose, from  the  former  JMethodist  Society  of  Mamaro- 
neck a  few  years  ago,  when  that  society  removed  to 
Rye  Neck.  It  contains  a  Urgo  Public  Hall  on  the 
main  floor,  with  public  offices,  a  lock-uj),  and  a 
house  tire  ap])aratus  beneath  it.  There  is  also  in  it 
the  Library  of  the  Athenreum  Society,  and  the  Safes 
and  Cases  of  the  Town  Records  in  charge  of  the 
Town  Clerk. 

Mamaroneck  is  a  post  town  and  one  of  the  oldest 

in  the  State,  dating  as  such  from  the  last  century. 

The  present  postmaster  is  William  A.  Boyd,  who  has 

held  the  office  and  administered  for  very  many  years 

4 


past  to  the  general  satisfaction  of  the  entire  commu- 
nity.   The  salary  now  is  $1100  per  annum. 

The  New  Haven  Rail  Road  runs  through  the  town, 
but  so  far  north  of  the  village,  the  harbor  and  the 
Necks  on  each  side  of  it  and  the  Sound,  that  neither 
can  be  seen  from  the  station.  The  daily  trains  are 
numerous  and  convenient.  It  is  now  understood 
that  a  new  Rail  Road  will  be  built  in  a  very  short 
time,  which  will  run  near  the  water  and  across  the 
upper  edge  of  the  harbor,  and  enter  the  City  of  New 
York  over  the  new  Bridge  across  the  Harlem  river 
at  Second  avenue. 

The  churches  of  Mamaroneck  are  two  only,  the 
Episcopal  church  of  St.  Thomas,  and  the  Society  of 
Friends.  The  meeting  house  of  the  latter,  however, 
is  a  few  feet  across  the  line  of  Mamaroneck  in  the 
adjoining  town  of  Scarsdale,  having  been  thrown 
into  that  town  by  the  town  line  as  fixed  by  the  Act 
of  1788.  The  Society  itself  is  it  is  believed  the  sec- 
ond oldest  meeting  in  the  County  of  Westchester, 
the  first  being  that  at  the  town  of  Westchester  which 
was  organized  in  1(585.  The  Friends  came  to  West- 
chester, both  the  town  and  the  County,  from  Long 
Island,  those  who  came  to  the  neighborhood  of  Mam- 
aroneck, chiefly  from  Flushing  and  the  country  imme- 
diately about  it.  The  meeting  at  Mamaroneck  was 
organized  in  1686  and  was  held  at  a  private  house.' 
This  house  the  writer  believes  was  that  of  Samuel 
Palmer,  afterwards  the  "Old  House"  of  Peter  Jay 
Muuro,  before  referred  to  and  its  position  described. 
They  increased  so  much,  that  in  1704  an  ajiplication 
was  made  to  the  Court  of  General  Sessions,  Colonel 
Caleb  Heathcote  presiding,  that  Samuel  Palmer's 
house  at  Mamaroneck  be  recorded  as  an  authorized 
place  for  Quaker  worship  under  the  Act  of  William 
and  Mary.  The  order  was  granted  and  a  copy  signed 
by  Colonel  Heathcote  delivered  to  Samuel  Palmer. 
In  1728  the  meeting  was  made  a  "  Preparative  Meet- 
ing for  Business,"  that  is,  for  the  administration  of 
discipline,  &c.  On  the  opposite  side  of  the  Westches- 
ter Path,  and  west  of  Samuel  Palmer's  house,  and  at 
the  top  of  the  rising  ground  ascended  by  the  Path  or 
road  was  laid  out,  and  still  is,  the  old  burying  ground 
of  the  Palmers,  and  adjoining  it  was  another  plot 
larger,  and  still  existing  and  still  called  the  Quaker 
Burying-Ground.  The  Boston  Road  to-uay  at  that 
point  is  still  the  old  Westchester  Path.  Both  plots 
were  directly  opposite  the  entrance  to  Mr.  Peter  Jay 
Munro's  rounds  within  which,  in  1819,  he  erected 
his  splendid  Country  House,  now  the  Hotel  at  Larch- 
mont,  termed  the  "Manor  House."  In  the  centre  of 
the  last  mentioned  plot,  some  little  distance  back 
from  the  road,  was  built,  probably  the  first  Quaker 
Meeting  House  in  Mamaroneck.  The  exact  year  ia 
uncertain  but  was  probably  1739,'  in  which  year  Mr. 


'  MS.  Icftor  of  .lanieii  Wood,  tho  prwont  I'rMldont  of  the  Wostchwrter 
lUstorionl  Soeli'ty,  who  hiis  iniirto  exhiiustiTe  rwieikrchua  into  tho  history 
of  the  Friends  in  Westchoflter  County, 

'  Letter  of  Junies  Wood. 


u 


MAMARONECK. 


Wood  says  a  meeting  house  wiia  built  there,  but  he 
does  not  know  whctli'  rit  was  the  first.  Mr.  William 
H.  Carpenter  of  the  present  meeting  who  at  the 
writer's  request  made  investigations  of  this  point 
says  it  was  "in  173;')  or  thereabout."  '  On  that  sjiot 
stood  the  house,  and  there  the  Meeting  was  held,  till 
17(58.  On  the  Gth  of  the  2d  month,— February — in 
that  year  the  quarterly  meeting  at  the  Purchase 
directed  five  Friends  to  "review"  "the  place  near  the 
centre  of  said  meeting  "  to  which  it  wiw  proposed  to 
move  the  Meeting  House  at  Mamaroneck,  there  being 
some  dissatisfaction. 

At  the  quarterly  meeting  held  at  the  "  oblong  "  on 
the  30th  of  the  succeeding  4th  month,  April,  17<i8, 
the  committee  made  the  following  interesting  report: 

"The  friends  that  were  appointed  a  Committee  to 
take  a  review  of  the  place  to  set  the  meeting  house 
on  made  report  that  they  had  met  the  friend'i  belong- 
ing to  Mamaroneck  weekly  meeting  and  taken  a  re- 
view of  the  places  proposed  to  set  the  meeting  house 
on  for  Mamaroneck  weekly  meeting  &  are  of  opinion 
that  a  piece  of  land  of  Benjamin  Palmei's  near  &  ad- 
joining Cornells  land  is  the  most  suitable  place  for 
that  purpose  as  being  near  the  centre  of  said  weekly 
meeting  &  as  Benjamin  Palmer  offered  to  give  half  an 
acre  of  land  to  our  Society  for  that  use  &  purpose  & 
John  Cornel  half  an  acre  adjoining  to  it  for  the  same 
use  &  also  each  of  them  to  sell  half  an  acre  for  three 
pounds  ten  shillings  apiece  therefore  this  meeting 
approves  of  having  a  meeting  house  set  up  &  erected 
on  said  land  of  Benjamin  Palmer,  &  appoints  Edward 
Burling  &  Joseph  GriH'en  to  take  deeds  of  Benjamin 
Palmer  &  John  Cornel  for  said  land,  &  John  Cornel 
Edward  Burling  and  .Joseph  Grifl'en  &  lienjamin 
Cornel,  or  the  majority  of  them  are  appointed  a  Com- 
mittee to  sell  the  meeting  house  at  Mamaroneck  with 
the  ground  it  stands  on  &  the  land  to  the  westward 
of  the  house  adjoining  the  road  the  width  of  the  house 
&  give  a  deed  for  the  same  or  remove  the  house  to  & 
on  the  land  of  Benjamin  Palmer  aforesaid — if  that 
house  should  be  sold  the  new  house  to  be  near  the 
dimensions  of  the  old  meeting  house,  &  to  be  one 
story  high  with  a  chimney  to  it,  &  report  to  be  made 
by  said  Committee  to  next  Quarterly  Meeting,  &  said 
Committee  or  some  of  them  are  to  get  a  subscription 
made  by  the  weekly  meeting  of  Mauiaroneck  &  bring 
to  next  Quarterly  Meeting." 

The  old  meeting  house  was  not  sold  but  was  taken 
down  and  apart  and  removed  to  the  new  location,  on  the 
beautiful  and  commanding  hill  where  it  stands  to-day. 
The  old  plot  was  not  sold  but  kept  as  a  burying 
ground.  Another  plot  beside  it  on  the  west  was  sold 
and  is  now  within  the  place  of  Mr.  Meyers.  This 
was  the  lot  long  known  as  the  Locust  lot  from  its 
being  covered  for  many  years  with  those  trees.  At 
the  succeeding  meeting  in  October,  Edward  Burling 
reported  for  the  Committee  "  that  the  Meeting  House 


1  Iietter  of  Ur.  Carpenter. 


was  removed  from  Mamaroneck  and  set  on  said  land 
of  Benjamin  Palmer,  and  that  the  expense  of  removing 
the  house  and  setting  it  u]),  and  completing  it  will 
amount  to  about  eighty  pounds,  including  the  seven 
pounds  for  one  acre  of  land  bought  of  Benjamin 
Palmer  and  John  Cornell,  and  that  a  subscription 
was  made  by  friends  belonging  to  the  weekly  meeting 
of  Mamaroneck  amounting  to  Twenty-eight  Pounds 
towards  the  expense  of  the  said  house  beside  the  land 
given  ;  and  requested  the  quarterly  meeting  to  ask  for 
and  from  each  monthly  meeting  towards  paying  the 
debt.  At  the  succeeding  November  meeting  at  Pur- 
chase, six  pounds,  13  shillings  were  reported  from  the 
Weekly  meeting  at  Westchester  "  and  paid  in,"  and 
there  was  also  "paid  in"  a  subscription  "from  Os- 
wego particular  meeting  "  of  seventeen  shillings  and 
sixpence,  and  delivered  to  Edward  Burling  jr.  It  is 
most  surprising  that  in  17()8,  a  gift  from  Oswego  then 
a  mere  frontier  Indian  trading  stati(ui  should  have 
been  sent  down  to  the  Friends  at  Mamaroneck  I  By 
the  6th  of  5th  month,  June  1769,  Benedict  Carpenter 
reported  that  the  debt  had  been  reduced  to  £18,  10,  05. 
In  due  time  that  was  paid  off,  and  the  new  Meeting 
house — if  it  may  be  called  so — was  entirely  paid  for. 
From  that  time  to  the  present  the  meeting  has  con- 
tinued. It  felt  the  change  growing  out  of  the  move- 
ment of  Elias  Hicks  upwards  of  sixty  years  since. 
The  two  parties  quietly  separated  and  another  meeting 
was  formed  which  erected  another  small  Meeting 
House  in  the  same  grounds  with  the  old  one,  where 
worship  is  also  maintained- 

"In  1883  the  meeting  house  being  in  an  almost  hope- 
lessly dilapidated  condition  a  movement  was  success- 
fully inaugurated  to  restore  it,  retaining  however  the 
frame  of  the  venerated  structure,  which  resulted  in 
the  ,  resent  exceedingly  comfortable  and  neat  house 
of  worship.  During  the  greater  portion  of  its  exist- 
ence the  meeting  has  been  large  and  influential, 
many  of  it«  members  have  been  noted  for  their  prom- 
inence in  business  and  social  circles  and  always  for 
their  integrity  and  stability.  During  very  many 
years  latterly  there  has  been  no  acknowledged  min- 
ister in  connection  with  the  meeting,  yet  it  has  con- 
tinued without  it,  and  from  present  appearances  al- 
though its  members  are  not  numerous  yet  it  bids  fair 
to  hold  its  own  for  many  years  to  come  a  continuing 
testimony  to  spiritual  worship  without  priest  or  choir. 
It  may  be  of  interest  to  name  a  few  of  its  adherents 
now  living,  viz.  Jonathan  Carpenter,  William  Bur- 
ling, David  F.  Britt,  Samuel  J.  Barnes,  Thos.  K. 
Morrell,  Noah  Tompkins,  John  D.  Schureman,  James 
Griffen,  George  Millets  and  William  H.  Carpenter 
who  with  their  families  are  earnest  in  the  support  of 
the  ancient  society  they  are  proud  to  be  connected 
with."' 

From  1693  to  1784  Mamaroneck  was  one  of  the  Pre- 

»  Letter  of  William  H.  Carpenter  to  whom  and  Mr.  Berling  I  am  In- 
debted fur  copies  of  tUe  Uociunents  lued  and  cited  in  tbe  above  alietch. 


MAMARONECK. 


27 


cinctH  of  the  Parish  of  Rye,  one  of  the  two  territorial 
parishes  erected  in  Westchester  Coiinty  in  the  former 
year  under  the  Act  establishing  parishes  of  the  Chiircli 
of  England  within  the  Counties  of  New  York  and 
Westchester  passed  March  24, 1()93,'  an  act  which  with 
several  amendments  made  in  later  years  continued  in 
force  till  repealed  by  the  Legislature  of  the  State  in 
the  year  1784,  just  about  a  hundred  years.  The  Estab- 
lishment of  the  Church  of  England  within  the  Prov- 
ince of  New  York  and  its  Parochial  organization  in 
Westchester  County  will  be  found  fully  described  in 
Parts  10,  and  11,  of  the  chapter  on  Manors  in  this  vol- 
ume." The  Inhabitants  of  the  Parish  of  Rye  elected 
Church  wardens  and  Vestrymen,  and  paid  the  charges 
authorized  by  law  during  this  whole  period.  Their 
duties  besides  those  of  seeing  to  the  proper  religious 
Services  in  the  parish  churches,  were  also  those  in  re- 
lation to  assessments,  taking  care  of  the  poor,  and 
other  duties  now  performed  by  town  officials.  During 
his  residence  here  Colonel  Heathcote  was  usually 
chosen  a  vestryman  and  often  a  Warden.  The  first 
election  under  the  act  of  1693  we  know  was  held  pur- 
suant to  the  summons  of  Justice  Theall  under  the  law 
at  Rye  on  the  28th  February  l(»94-5.  John  Lane 
and  John  Brondig  (Brundige)  were  elected  church 
Wardens,  and  Jonathan  Hurt  Joseph  Horton 
Joseph  Purdy,  Timothy  Knapp,  Hachaliah  Brown, 
Thomas  Merritt,  Deliverance  Brown,  and  Isaac  Den- 
ham,  vestrymen."  In  1702  is  the  record  of  another 
election,  when  on  the  12"'  of  January  at  a  lawful 
town  meeting  in  the  Precinct  of  Rye  Colonel  Caleb 
Heathcote  and  the  Justice  Theall  (who  summoned 
the  meeting  of  the  Inhabitants  for  the  election  of 
1695)  were  elected  Church  Wardens,  and  Justice 
Purdy,  Justice  Mott,  Capt.  Horton,  Deliverance 
Brown,  Hachaliah  Brown,  George  Lane,  Sen., 
Thomas  Purdy,  Thomas  Disbrow,  Isaac  Denhara, 
and  Samuel  Lane,  were  elected  vestrymen  for  the 
ensuing  year.  * 

These  elections  will  be  found  mentioned  in  Baird's 
History  of  Rye,  chapter  24th,  from  which  I  have  taken 
the  particulars  not  having  had  the  time  to  examine  the 
Rye  Records  personally  as  was  intended.'  The  very  able 
and  Reverend  Author  of  that  very  valuable  work  was 
evidently  unaware  of  the  legal  nature  of  the  origin  of 
the  establishment  of  the  church  of  England  in  West- 
chester County,  and  has  given  an  eroneous  view  of  it 
in  that  chapter,  as  will  be  seen  by  comparing  it  with 
that  which  will  be  found  in  the  chapter  on  Manors  in 
this  work.  A  view  based  on  tne  mistaken  idea  that 
it  was  the  Act  of  1693  which  established  the  church 


1 II.  Bradfurd's  Lawa,  19. 

<  Ante  pp.  B8  to  1U8  Inclusive. 

»  Town  Rdconis  of  Rye. 

«Town  Recordi  of  Kye. 

'In  1704,  MadHHie  Knight,  in  ber  Journul  before  referred  tu,  iiayii  in 
apealcingof  the  towns  of  Mamaroneclc,  Bye,  and  Horseneclc  (Qreenwich) 
"  that  one  church  of  England  parson  officiated  in  all  these  three  towns 
once  ever)'  Sunday  throughout  the  year." 


of  England  within  New  York,  whereas  it  was  estab- 
lished by  the  royal  authority  many  years  before.  New 
York  being  a  conquered  Province.  And  being  the 
only  British  American  province  so  conquered  from 
another  nation  by  the  English  Crown,  it  was  there- 
fore the  only  one  in  America  in  which  that  Crown,  by 
the  law  of  England,  had  the  power  and  right  to  es- 
tablish the  church  of  England.  In  172.')  Mamaroneck 
paid  towards  the  tax  to  support  the  Rector  of  Rye 
under  the  act  of  1693,  £18.  Later,  in  1767,  the 
amount  then,  was  £19,  2,  6.  These  sums  were  the 
annual  ones  for  those  years.  The  amounts  were  an- 
nually fixed  by  board  of  Justices  under  the  law. 

So  strong  was  the  connection  of  Mamaroneck 
with  Rye  as  a  part  of  that  Parish,  in  fact  and  in  feel- 
ing, that  it  continued  practically  down  to  the  founding 
of  St.  Thomas'  Church,  Mamaroneck.  All  Mamar- 
oneck people  of  the  Episcopal  Church  attended  at 
Rye  church,  and  were  married  and  buried,  and  their 
children  baptized,  by  the  Rectors  of  Rye,  A  very  few 
went  to  the  New  Rochelle  church  but  the  large  ma- 
jority went  to  Rye.  It  was  simply  an  example  of  the 
power  of  faith  and  habit  which  descended  to  them 
from  their  ancestors. 

While  a  youth  in  Yale  College  the  late  Rt.  Rev. 
William  Heathcote  de  Lancey  first  begun  holding 
Episcopal  services  in  Mamaroneck  while  on  his 
visits  to  his  home  at  Heathcote  Hill.  He  entered 
college  in  1813  and  graduated  in  1817,  and  these  ser- 
vices began  in  1814.  He  met  with  better  success 
than  he  anticipated.  His  Father  John  Peter  De 
Lancey  took  great  interest  in  the  matter,  as  did  his 
friend  and  neighbor  Mr.  Peter  J.  Munro,  and  Mr. 
and  Mrs.  Peter  Jay,  the  blind  Mr.  Jay,  of  Rye. 
Finally  young  Mr.  de  Lancey  was  so  successful  that 
on  April  12th,  1814,  under  the  auspices  of  his  Father 
and  Mr.  Peter  J.  Munro  a  parish  was  organized  under 
the  old  act  of  17th  March,  1795,  to  which  was  given  the 
name  of  St.  Thomas.  Mr.  John  Peter  de  Lancey 
and  Mr.  Peter  Jay  Munro  Church  Wardens,  and 
Capt.  William  Gray,  Benjamin  Hadden,  Henry  Ged- 
ney,  Samuel  Deal,  Abraham  Guion,  and  Matthias  G. 
Valentine  Vestrymen "  at  the  first  election  held  on 
Tuesday  in  Easter  week  of  that  year.  The  Rev.  Mr. 
Haskell  Rector  of  Rye  and  several  of  the  clergy  of 
the  neighbouring  parishes  took  charge  of  the  services, 
which  were  held  in  the  present  Town  Hall,  then  a 
Methodist  Church  just  built,  by  the  courtesy  of  that 
Society  which  hud  just  previously  been  organized. 
They  were  continued  with  much  though  not  perfect 
regularity.  In  1813  the  Legislature  passed  a  new 
"  Act  relating  to  Religious  Societies  "  which  changed 
and  made  more  favorable  the  method  of  organizing 
Episcopal  Churches.  The  parish  continued  however 
under  the  original  organization  of  1814,  till  1817, 
when  by  the  advice  of  Mr.  Munro,  a  new  organization 


•Certificate  recorded  in  Lib.  A.  of  Rellgiuu  Societies  in   West.  Go. 
Reg^r.  office  p.  50. 


S8 


MAMAKONECK. 


was  effected  under  the  later  law,  in  order  that  some 
of  its  benctitri  miglit  be  availed  of. 

The  first  meeting  with  this  object  was  held  5  April 
1817  and  the  new  incorporation  was  effected  June 
9th  1817.  The  Pariah  was  admitted  to  union  with 
the  Convention  on  the  1st  of  October  1817,  Dr. 
Guy  Carlcton  Bayley  being  its  first  delegate.  The 
next  year  1818  Mr.  William  H.  de  Lancey  then  pur- 
suing his  studies  in  Theology  with  Bishop  Hobart 
was  the  lay  delegate.  The  Church  Wardens  were  the 
same,  John  Peter  de  Lancey  and  Peter  Jay  Munro. 
The  vestrymen  under  the  new  organisation  were 
Henry  Qedney,  Benjamin  Hadden,  Jacob  Mott, 
Thomas  J.  de  Lancey,  Benjamin  Crooker,  Ouy  0. 
Bayley,  Monmouth  Lyon,  Kdward  F.  de  Lancey. 
The  Rev.  Mr.  Haskell,  who  was  Mr.  John  P.  de  Lan- 
cey's  Rector  at  Rye,  and  under  his  influence  long 
afforded  a  nursing  hand  to  the  infant  parish,  often 
giving  it  services  both  on  Sundays  and  week  days. 
Mr.  de  Lancey  kept  up  his  connection  with,  and  pew 
in  Rye  Church  to  the  time  of  his  death  in  1828,  and 


ST.   THOMAS'   CHURCH,  (OLD). 

he  also  had  a  pew  in  the  church  at  New  Rochelle  by 
way  of  aiding  that  parish  then  needing  all  the  help 
it  coul  1  g  t. 

No  ckigjiiian  was  regularly  called  at  first.  After 
Mr.  William  H.  de  Lancey  was  ordained  Deacon  in 
1820  he  served  temporarily  for  a  few  months  in  Grace 
church,  New  York,  and  subsequently  in  Trinity 
church,  N.  Y.  In  the  spring  of  1821,  when  the 
latter  temporary  engagement  ended  he  returned  to 
his  father's  House  at  Mamaroneck,  until  Bishop  Ho- 
bart could  give  him  a  permanent  parish.  While  at 
Mamaroneck  he  was  called  to  .St.  Thomas's,  accepted, 
and  served  gratuitouHly,  till  1822  when  through  Bishop 
Hobart's  recommendation  he  was  invited  by  Bishop 
White  of  Pennsylvania,  to  become  his  personal 
assistant  in  the  "three  United  churches"  of  Christ 
church,  St.  Peter's,  and  St  James's  in  Philadelphia  of 
which  he  was  also  Rector.  This  invitation  Mr.  de 
Lancey  accepted,  and  in  April  1822  took  up  his  resi- 
dence in  that  city.    He  thus  became  from  June  1821 


to  April  1822,  Hl""it  ten  months,  the  first  clergyman 
regularly  in  chargi  of  St.  Thomas's,  Mamaroneck. 

In  1823  a  frame  church  with  pointed  windows  and 
a  low  tower  was  erected,  and  consecrated  on  the  17th 
of  June  in  that  year  by  the  Rt.  Rev.  John  Henry  Ho- 
bart, then  the  Bishop  of  New  York.  The  expense 
was  mainly  borne  by  Mr.  John  Peter  de  Lancey,  Mr. 
Peter  Jay  Munro,  and  Mr.  Purdy  the  father  of  the 
present  Mr.  Samuel  O.  Purdy,  of  Harrison.  The 
clergy  present  were  the  Rev.  Lewis  P.  Bayard  and  the 
Rev.  Lawson  Carter,  both  warm  friends,  and  the  former 
a  relative  of  Mr.  de  Lancey  and  the  wife  of  Mr. 
Munro.  A  cut  of  it  is  given  which  shows  the  edifice 
as  it  wa-s  originally.  It  was  enlarged  some  years  later, 
in  1835  by  a  chancel,  and  again  in  1857 — at  the  chan- 
cel end  by  an  addition  containing  another  window  on 
each  side,  and  so  remained  until  removed,  and  subse- 
quently torn  down,  on  the  erection  of  the  i)re8ent 
striking  and  exceedingly  handsome  stone  church, 
built  at  their  sole  expense  and  presented  to  the 
church  corporation,  by  Mr.  James  M.  Constable  and 
his  children  as  a  memorial  of  his  wife  and  their 
mother  the  late  Mrs.  Henrietta  Constable,  who  de- 
parted this  life  February  11"',  1884.  The  Corner- 
stone was  laid  December  4th,  1884,  by  the  Rt.  Rev. 
Henry  C.  Potter,  Assistant  Bishop  of  New  York,  and 
the  church  was  consecrated  by  the  same  Prelate 
June  10th,  188C,  the  Rev.  Dr.  Swope  of  Trinity  Par- 
ish, New  York,  preaching  the  sermon.  The  new 
church,  of  which  an  engraving  is  given  from  a  draw- 
ing expressly  made  for  the  purpose  by  Mr.  Bnssett 
Jones  its  masterly  Architect,  is  a  beautiful  building, 
chaste,  simple,  dignified,  and  very  effective.  It  is  a 
perfect  specimen  of  an  old  English  Parish  Church. 
The  style  is  the  Early  English  (iothic,  with  the  mas- 
si  veness  often  found  in  the  churches  of  that  period. 
It  is  built  of  Belleville  brown  stone,  rusticated,  and 
consists  of  chancel,  nave,  tower,  and  two  porches. 
The  entire  length  is  127  feet,  that  of  the  nave  alone 
70  feet,  the  chancel,  a  square  one,  is  25  deep  by  19 
feet  wide,  and  the  height  of  the  tower  is  87  feet.  It 
has  a  high  open  timbered  roof  in  the  rich  yellow  pine 
of  the  Southern  states.  The  altar  and  reredos  are 
of  Caen  stone  richly  sculptured,  the  latter  .showing 
an  exquisitely  executed  bas-relief  of  the  Last  Sup- 
per of  Leonardo  da  Vinci.  The  pulpit  is  also  of 
Caen  stone  carved,  surmounted  by  a  wide  polished 
brass  panelled  rail  of  antique  design.  The  windows 
are  of  English  stained  glass  all  showing  figure  subjects 
finely  executed.  The  font,  after  a  special  and  beau- 
tiful design  of  the  architect,  is  of  the  deeply  rich 
tinted  Derbyshire  Spar,  recently  discovered  in  larger 
masses  than  ever  before  known,  not  far  from  the  City 
of  Chesterfield  in  Derbyshire  in  England,  all  highly 
polished  inside  and  outside.  The  pews  in  num- 
ber 80  afford  350  sittings'and  are  of  oak.  The  Tower 
contains  a  very  musical  sweet  toned  chime  of  10 
bells,  and  a  clock  which  strikes  the  quarters  and  half 
hours,  as  well  as  the  hours. 


MAMARONECK. 


In  the  same  enclosure  with  the  church,  and  a  short 
distance  from  it  stand  the  Rectory  and  parish  build- 
ings in  the  same  style  of  architecture  but  built  of 
brick  with  brown  stone  cawings,  and  slate  roofs.  They 
are  happily  of  irregular  shape  and  combined  so  under 
a  series  of  varying  angles  and  roofs,  that  they  present 
to  the  eye  but  a  single  very  picturesque  edifice. 
The  whole  together,  though  the  general  effect  is  im- 
paired by  being  in  the  business  and  not  very  attrac- 
tive partof  the  village,  an  evil  that  has  been  partially 
remedied  by  the  liberal  purchase  and  removal  of  ad- 
joining buildings,  and  throwing  their  area  into  fair 
gardens,  form  one  of  the  most  thorough,  complete, 
beautiful  and  churchly  group  of  Parish  edifices,  with 
appropriate  surroundings  in  this  county,  and  are  a 
noble  monument  to  the  Wife  and  Mother  in  whose 
memory  they  have  been  erected. 


ST.  THOMAS'   CHURCH,    (NEW). 

At  Larchmont  a  handsome  frame  chapel  was  erect- 
ed four  years  ago  by  the  Trustees  of  the  Larchmont 
Land  Company  for  general  services.  Afterward  it 
was  organized  as  a  chapel  of  ease  of  St.  Thomas's 
Church  Mamaroneck  under  the  ministration  and 
direction  as  to  its  services  of  the  Rector  of  that 
church  for  the  time  being.  It  and  the  Sunday  school 
attached  to  it  is  only  open  during  the  summer  season. 
Usually  an  arrangement  is  made  with  the  assent 
of  the  Rector  of  St.  Thomas  with  some  clergyman 
temporarily  for  the  services  at  the  chapel  during  the 
season.  The  Trustees  in  1886  are  Marcus  P.  Wood- 
ruiT  and  David  Jardine. 

A  Methodist  Society  was  organized  and  a  frame 
church  built  in  Mamaroneck,  on  High  Street  in  1813. 
It  there  continued  with  a  small  congregation  till 
about  the  year  1850,  when  it  was  removed  to  Rye 
Neck  and  a  large  and  handsome  frame  church  edifice 
was  there  erected  about  a  third  of  a  mile  from  the 
Mamaroneck  River  Bridge  and  nearly  at  the  junction 
of  the  old  Westchester  Path  with  the  road  running 
east  from  that  Bridge,  ar  account  of  which  falls  ap- 


propriately in  the  chapter  on  Rye.  The  late  Mr. 
.Tames  M.  Fuller  organized  a  Methodist  Sunday- 
school  and  ert'ct«Ml  11  building  for  its  use  in  1878  on 
Weaver  street  mainly  at  liis  own  expense,  which  he 
superintended  himself  until  his  lamented  death  in 
June  188.'),  when  Mr.  William  H.  Stiles  succeeded 
him  assisted  by  Mr.  Hriullbrd  RliodoH.  The  object 
is  to  afford  Sunday-school  instruction  to  children  in 
the  neighbourhood,  which  is  distant  from  the  villages 
of  Mamaroneck  and  Rye  Neck.  All  the  gentlemen 
connected  with  it  are  Methodists  but  it  is  under- 
stood that  it  is  not  conducted  under  the  auspices  of 
any  denomination  in  particular. 

The  Incidents  of  the  Revolution  which  occurred  in 
Mamaroneck  are  not  ninny.  Its  inhabitants  as  well 
as  the  great  majority  of  the  Peopleof  the  County  were 
a  perfectly  satisfied,  quiet,  community,  satisfied  with 
their  surrounding,  and  their  lot.  They  had  a  market 
within  a  day's  journey  or  a  day's  sail  for  all  that  they 
could  raise  beyond  their  own  wants.  Their  taxes  were 
light  and  they  managed  their  local  concerns  for  them- 
selves under  the  easy  laws  of  the  Province.  They 
felt  no  pressure  of  any  kind  or  from  any  quarter. 
Kven  in  the  politics  of  the  day  there  was  no  high 
party  feeling,  still  loss  any  undue  excitements.  They 
were  a  happy,  contented  people  perfectly  satisfied  to 
be  let  alone. 

When  the  movements  of  politicians  of  New  York 
and  other  places  against  the  English  Ministry  began, 
which  resulted,  contrary  to  the  wishes  of  those  who 
first  started  these  movements,  in  the  Declaration  of 
Independence,  the  i)eople  of  Westchester  as  a  mass 
were  not  in  favor  of  them.  Neither  were  some  of  those 
whogaveafinal  assent  to  them.  Hence  it  was  that  not- 
withstanding that  Westchester  eventually  became  the 
Neutral  Ground,  the  people  who  dwelt  in  it  were  more 
in  favor  of  the  old  state  of  things  than  in  the  proposed 
new  one.  It  was  natural.  It  is  so  in  all  countries 
under  all  systems.  Those  who  excite  revolutionary 
movements  to  overthrow  old  governments,  are  always 
a  minority,  and  usually  a  very  great  minority,  of  the 
inhabitants  of  the  Country  the  institutions  of  which 
are  changed  by  violence  or  war.  Hence  it  was  that 
in  1774  the  people  of  Mamaroneck  opposed  the 
action  of  the  Committee  of  Correspondence,  set  forth 
in  their  circular  of  29  July  1774  as  also  did  those  of 
Rye. ' 

When  it  was  known  that  Gage's  Army  in  Boston 
was  getting  short  of  provisions  late  in  1775,  a  sort  of 
killing  bee  was  held  at  William  Sutton's  house  at  de 
Lancey's  Neck,  the  neighboring  farmers  drove  cattle 
there  and  a  certain  day  killed  and  dressed,  and  after- 
ward salted  down  and  barrelled  as  soon  as  it  coulJ  be 
done,  beeves  enough  to  load  a  sloop  as  a  contribution 
to  the  besieged  troops  at  Boston.  She  was  loaded  at 
Indian  point,  near  the  present  home  of  Mr.  James  J. 
Burnet,  and  sent  off  on  her  voyage,    Butshe  never  got 


iSee  PruceediugH  of  Maiuaruueck,  Ac,  iu  1.  Forctj'o    Archives. 


30 


MAMAKONECK. 


to  Boston.  Through  some  carck-wiiioiiH  in  runninfr 
out  with  u  amiirt  breeze,  xho  run  it  little  too  near  the 
end  of  a  reof  in  rounding  the  Scotch  Ctipa,  struck  h 
pointed  rock,  and  wink  beyond  it  with  all  nn  board. 
The  crew  was  saved  hut  the  beef  in  the  hold  was  all 
loat.  It  u  not  related  that  any  second  attempt  was  ever 
made. 

The  most  important  Revolutionary  incident,  v/aa 
the  night  buttle  on  Heuthcote  Hill  und  the  high 
ridge  above  it,  between  the  Delaware  Regiment,  und 
parts  of  First  and  Third  Virginia  Regiments  of  Wash- 
ington's army,  under  Colonel  Haslet  and  Major 
Green,  and  Roberts's  Rangers  of  Howe's  Army  under 
Major  Rogers,  resulting  in  the  repulse  of  the  former 
with  severe  loss  to  the  latter  who  retained  their  posi- 
tion. On  October  2l8t,  1776,  Rogers's  Cor}>8  of  about 
400  or  450  men  which  formed  the  extreme  end  of  the 
right  wing  of  Howe's  Army,  then  moving  up  from 
Pelhum  Neck,  reached  Mamaroneck  and  encamped 
upon  the  high  flat  of  Heathcote  Hill,  under  the  lee 
of  the  ridge  above  it  for  protection  from  the  North- 
west winds,  which  at  that  season  had  grown  cold. 
No  enemy  was  beyond  them  and  this  position  was 
therefore  chosen.  Rogers  himself  nmde  his  head- 
quarters in  a  small  house  which  then  stood  directly 
on  the  north  side  of  the  old  Westchester  Path  or 
road,  right  opposite  the  gate  of  the  lane  which  ran 
down  de  Lancey's  Neck  to  Sutton's  House,  which 
stood  within  the  present  Miller  premises  now  owned 
by  Mr.  J.  A.  Bostwick.  On  the  22d  of  October  Wash- 
ington rode  up  to  White  Plains  in  advance  of  his 
army,  who  had  then  reached  Valentine's  Hill.  Learn- 
ing there  of  Rogers's  advance  and  position,  he  at  once 
sent  orders  to  Colonel  Haslet  to  take  his  Delaware 
regiment  of  600  strong,  and  150  men  of  the  First  and 
Third  Virginia  under  Major  Green,  and  surprise  and 
cut  him  oft'.'  The  Virginians  were  to  lead  the  attack 
and  the  Delaware  troops  to  support  them.  Rogers 
had  been  a  scout  of  Sir  William  Johnson's  with  Israel 
Putnam,  in  the  French  War,  was  a  man  of  fair  edu- 
cation, not  much  principle,  but  extremely  bold,  cour- 
ageous, and  wary.  Knowing  the  American  Army  was 
below  his  position  and  to  the  southwest  of  it,  he  ex- 
tended his  pickets  more  than  a  third  of  a  mile  the 
second  night  beyond  where  they  wers  on  the  first  night 
and  doubled  their  numbers, cad  then  went  to  his  own 
headquarters.  Haslctt  marched  all  night  and  reached 
the  neighborhood  before  day.  His  guides  not  aware 
of  the  change  in  Rogers's  pickets  led  the  Virginians 
directly  upon  them  in  the  dark,  which  threw  them 
into  confusion.  At  once  all  hopes  of  a  surprise  van- 
ished. The  uproar  roused  Rogers's  camp,  the  men 
rushed  to  the  top  of  the  ridge  overlooking  it  and  be- 
fore they  could  form,  their  own  pickets  and  the  Vir- 
ginians mixed  together  came  rushing  in  upon  them. 
It  was  pitch  dark,  and  the  fighting  went  on  in  the 
utmost     '>nfusion,  the  Delawareans,  Virginians  and 


in.  Force,  Fifth  S«riea,  a76. 


Hungers  being  all  mixed  together  each  man  fighting 
for  himself  Right  in  the  midst  of  it  rushed  Roger*. 
Roused  by  the  noise,  he  flew  up  to  the  fight  not  know- 
ing how  it  was  going,  but  roaring  out  with  presence 
of  mind,  in  stentorian  tones,  "They  are  running," 
"  they  are  running,"  "  give  it  to  'em  boys,  damn  'em, 
give  it  to  'em."  Reassured  by  his  voice  ami  words 
the  Rangers,  actually  on  the  jioint  of  fleeing,  rallied, 
red(mbled  their  efforts,  and  the  American  forces  fell 
buck  taking  many  prisoners  with  them,  and  the 
Rangers  remained  in  possession  of  the  ground.  The 
surprise  was  a  failure,  the  action  really  a  drawn  one 
though  the  Rangers  retained  the  field,  Rogers's  wari- 
ness und  presence  of  mind  being  all  that  saved  them 
from  defeat  and  capture.  Such  is  the  account  that 
has  come  down  from  men  living  in  Mamaroneck  at 
the  time.  Col.  Tench  Tilghman,  Washington's  aid, 
writing  the  afternoon  after  the  fight  to  Wm.  Duer 
Huys  "  They  uttucked  Rogers  ut  daybreak,  put  the 
party  to  flight,  brought  in  thirty-six  prisoners,  sixty 
arms,  and  a  good  many  blankets ;  and  had  not  the 
guides  undertook  to  alter  the  first  disposition.  Major 
Rogers,  and  his  party  of  about  400,  would  in  all  prob- 
ability have  f'ttllen  into  our  hands.  We  don't  know 
bow  many  we  killed,  but  an  ofHcer  says  he  counted 
twenty-five  in  one  orchard.  We  had  twelve  wounded, 
among  them  Mujor  Green  und  Captain  Pope.""  The 
fact  is  the  number  killed  on  each  side  ia  not  certainly 
known.  All  of  both  sides  were  buried  just  over  the 
top  of  the  ridge  almost  directly  north  of  the  Heath- 
cote Hill  house,  in  the  angle  formed  by  the  present 
fnrm  lane  und  the  east  fence  of  the  field  next  to  the 
ridge.  There  their  graves  lie  together  friend  and  foe 
but  all  Americans.'  The  late  Stephen  Hall,  (father  of 
the  late  Abram,  Isaac,  and  Thomas,  Hall)  a  boy  of  17 
or  18  at  the  time,  said  that  they  were  buried  the  morn- 
ing after  the  fight  and  that  he  saw  nine  laid  in  one 
large  grave.*  Such  was  the  skirmish  on  Heathcote  Hill, 
the  only  "  engagement  "  about  Mamaroneck  during 
the  Revolutionary  War.  There  was  another  on  the 
back  part  of  the  Manor  of  Scarsdale  at  the  Fox  Mead- 
ows, immediately  before  the  battle  of  White  plains, 
but  that  does  not  fairly  belong  to  this  chapter. 

The  writer,  knowing  that  Mamaroneck  did  her  full 
duty  in  the  late  civil  war,  tried  some  years  ago  to  get 
at  Albany  the  returns  of  enlistments  and  names  of 
the  men,  but  failed,  'le  supervisor  never  having  filed 
them. 

The  following  is  an  account  of  the  descendants  of 
.John  Richbell,  who  left  only  daughters,  and  of  the 
Mott  family  of  whom  one  of  them  was  the  ancestress. 
The  writer  is  indebted  for  it  to  Mr|.  Thomas  C.  Cor- 
nell, of  Yonkers : 

John  Richbell,  the  first  patentee  of  Mamaroneck 


2  III.  Force,  Fifth  Series  67,  6. 

^  My  father  told  me  when  he  waa  a  buy  their  green  grares  were  diH- 
tinctly  viaihie. 
*  Abraham  Hall  told  the  writer  this  fact  many  yean  ago. 


MA.MARONKrK. 


leaving  no  sons,  hii  name  hii  not  been  perprtuuted 
in  hiH  children,  liut  HOinc  of  the  duMcendunU  of  hix 
dauf^hter  have  been  well  known  in  Miimitroncck,  and 
in  WeHtchcBtiT  County,  and  in  the  State  and  Nation, 
and  Hhould  he  mentioned  here.  John  and  Ann  Rich- 
hell  left  three  daughtent.  t".  Eli/.aheth,  the  eldeHt 
who  became  thcHucond  wife  of  Adam  Mott  cif  Heni|>- 
Htead,  about  the  time  that  her  father  removed  from  | 
Oysterbay, — where  he  had  been  Adam  Mott'it  nciKb- 
bour, — to  make  hiH  ftnal  settlement  at  Maniaroneck. 
— 2*  Mary,  who  in  1()70  married  Captain  Jainex 
Mott,  second  Hon  of  Adam  Mott  of  llemiMtead  by  liiit 
firHt  wife  Jane  Hulett.  Captain  James  Molt  wawlon^ 
prominent  in  Mamaroneek,  was  .Fuutice  of  the  I'eaee 
and  Hupervisor,  and  left  two  children  .lames  and  Mary. 
-3''.  The  youngestdaughterof  John  Uichbell,  named 
Anne  after  her  mother,  married  John  Knierson  of 
White  River,  Talbot  County,  Maryland. 

Elizabeth  (Richbell)  Mott,  gave  to  her  eldest  son 
her  father's  name  and  called  him  Richbell  Mott  and 
his  grandmother  Ann  Richbell  i  ide  him  one  of  her 
executors  and  three  of  the  grand  ins  of  this  Richbell 
Mott  bore  the  same  name.  Richbell  Mott  was  a  man 
of  Character  and  Substance,  and  in  10. M5  married 
Elizabeth  Thorne.  He  possessetl  considerable  land  in 
Hempstead  and  made  his  home  on  Mad  Nan's  Neck 
(Little  Neck).  His  grandson  Richbell  Mott  son  of  his 
eldest  son  Edmond, — born  in  Hempstead  in  I7i'8  mar- 
ried in  1749  Deborah  Doughty,  and  died  in  1758  leav- 
ing two  daughters  Margaret  and  Phebe.  This  Mar- 
garet Mott  married  in  1772  the  Hon.  .Melancthon 
Smith  of  New  York  one  of  the  most  prominent  men 
of  the  State  during  and  after  the  Revolution  in  the 
policy  opposed  to  that  of  Alexander  Hamilton.  Rich- 
bell Mott  Smith,  one  of  the  sons  of  Hon.  Melancthon 
and  Margaret  (Mott)  Smith  died  on  the  coast  of  Ja- 
pan in  1800.  Another  son  was  Colonel  Melancthon 
Smith,  the  father  of  Admiral  Melancthon  Smith  U. 
8.  N.  on  the  retired  list  who  distinguished  himself 
so  highly  during  the  late  Civil  war  e8])ecially  at  the 
capture  of  New  Orleans,  and  who  is  now  living  in 
an  honored  old  age,  at  South  Oysterbay  L.  I. 

Dr.  Valentine  Mott,  the  celebrated  Surgeon  of  New 
York  was  descended  from  Elizabeth  (Richbell)  Mott's 
younger  son  William  Mott  of  Great  Neck, — L.  I. 

James  Mott  of  Premium  Point,  long  a  well  known 
resident  of  the  Mamaroneck  of  a  hundred  years  ago, 
was  the  only  child  of  the  first  Richbell  Mott's  young- 
est son  Richard,  and  Sarah  (Pearsall)  Mott,  and  was 
born  in  Hempstead  at  "  the  Head  of  the  Harbor '' — 
nowRoslyn  in  1742.  He  married  in  17t)5  his  second 
cousin  Mary  Underbill,  dau  iter  of  Samuel  and  Ann 
(Carpenter)  Underbill  of  Oysterbay.  Samuel  Under- 
bill a  cousin  of  the  Underbills  of  Westchester  Coun- 
ty, was  a  great  grandson  of  the  celebrated  Capt.  John 
Underbill  who  died  in  Oysterbay  in  1671,  and  Ann 
Carpenter's  mother  Mary  Willet,  wife  of  Joseph  Car- 
penter of  Glencove  was  a  grand  daughter  on  her  fath- 
er's side  of  Capt.  Thomas  Willet  the  first  English 


.Mayor  of  New  York,  and  on  her  mother'a  aide  of  Wm. 
Coildington  the  first  (loveriior  of  RhtKle  Island.  The 
I'nderhillH  and  the  Coddingtoiis  and  the  Willet*  and 
the  Motts  ha<l  become  Quakers.  James  Mott,  atler  a 
few  year*  iw  a  successful  merchant  in  New  York  re- 
tired Just  before  the  Revolution,  with  a  moderate  com- 
|>etence,  at  the  early  age  of  thirty-three  and  settled  in 
.Mamaroneck,  on  the  "  West  Neck  "  of  his  (irandfatb- 
er's  grandfather,  John  Riehbcll,  on  the  peninsula 
nearly  in  front  of  the  Village  of  New  Rochelle.  Hia 
wife  was  then  in  failing  health  and  he  sought  a  quiet 
home,  remote  from  the  threatenings  of  war  which  per- 
vaded the  City.  Hut  the  war  soon  came,  and  in  place 
of  t|uiet,  he  found  himself  with  wife  and  children  be- 
tween the  lines  of  hostile  armies  and  exposed  to  dep- 
redations from  outlaws  on  both  sides.  }Iis  wife  died 
early  in  the  Revolution. 

The  ancient  handsome  two  story  farm  house,  occu- 
pied by  .Tames  Mott,  with  its  double-pitched  roof, 
still  stands  in  good  repair,  fronting  to  the  South, 
on  its  own  private  latie,  half  a  mile  eaatof  the  lioston 
road,  surnmndcd  by  trees  and  with  its  own  farm 
buildings  and  cultivated  fields,  and  in  recent  yeara 
has  been  occui)ied  by  the  Pryor  family.  But  the  an- 
cient tide  Mill  which  stood  near  the  house  on  the 
land  locked  bay  which  made  the  Mill  Pond,  and  whieb 
.lames  Mott  continued  to  operate  after  the  Revolu- 
tion, was  replaced  about  the  end  of  the  last  centuvy 
by  a  large  new  Mill,  and  a  new  <lani  about  hal'.'  a 
mile  lower  down  the  bay  near  itM  mouth. — Jamea 
Mott's  three  sons  Richard  Robert  and  Samuel  had 
grown  to  manhood,  and  they  fitted  up  the  new  Mill 
with  twelve  runs  of  Mill  Stones,  and  all  the  improve- 
ments then  known  and  gave  it  the  name  of  the  Pre- 
mium Mill,  and  it  was  operated  with  much  success 
and  exported  Hour  to  Europe  while  England  and 
France  were  at  war,  with  large  profit.  S<x)n  after  the 
Premium  Mill  was  built  Richard  Mott,  the  eldest  son 
withdrew  from  the  milling  business,  and  commenced 
cotton  spinning  in  a  small  Mill  still  standing  disman- 
tled, near  his  pleasant  dwelling  house,  to  which  he 
gave  the  name  of  Hickory  Grove,  a  little  west  of 
where  the  N.  Y.  and  N.  H.  Rail  Road  now  runs 
near  Mamaroneck, — and  "  Mott's  Spool  Cotton,"  bad 
a  good  reputation  for  many  years.  Richard  Mott 
became  a  Quaker  Minister  of  considerable  reputation. 
He  was  a  man  of  fine  presence  and  a  graceful  and 
pleasing  speaker.  H(  died  in  Mamaroneck  in  1857, 
in  his  S»Oth  year. 

James  and  Mary  (Underbill)  Mott  had  four  chil- 
dren, born  in  New  York  but  brought  up  in  Mamaro- 
neck. Their  eldest  son  Richard  just  mentioned  was 
born  in  1767.  Their  only  daughter  Anne  born  1768 
married  at  Mamaroneck  in  1785,  while  still  wanting 
three  months  of  her  seventeenth  birthday,  her  fatber'a 
cousin  Adam  Mott  of  Hempstead,  in  whose  veins  ran 
the  blood  of  the  best  Quaker  families  of  that  first  set- 
tlement of  the  Quakers  in  America.  The  young  Adam 
Mott,  the  third  in  descent  of  the  first  Adam  Mott 


MAMAKONKCK. 


of  II(>in|iiit<>it(l,  iukI  llic  loiirtli  from  .loliii  IIIiIiIh'II,— 
lirou^'ht  hilt  youii^  l)ri<le  to  tlit'  old  Mott  lioiiifMtciitl, 
on  the  chore  of  thit  Soiiiul  iiciir  Hciii|>Htcii(l  Hiirbor, 
on  hind  whidi  had  bi'i'n  ^riuitcd  to  hi:*  ^rt>iit  Unclti 
Kichlu'll  Mott  in  l7ilHatid  \vhi<h  Kirliliill  Mott  hoM 
to  hi«  brother  Adam  Moti  in  l71-'>.  The  yoiint;  Adam 
between  1785  and  17'.MHinilt  a  new  Mill  at  Cow  l)ay — 
(now  I'ort  NVaMhiii);toii,)  and  iiroHpercd  tiiere  for  more 
tinin  tifleen  yearn,  and  wiien  liis  wifeV  l)r(itiit'r  Ui<'hurd 
retiri'tl  from  the  I'reminm  Mill,  the  renniiningbrotherH 
Hubert  and  i^nmuel  indueud  tiieir  brotherin-law  Adam 
Mott  of  Hempstead  to  leave  hiii  proMperouH  Mill  at 
C'nw  liay  and  join  Ihem  in  the  I'reminm  Mill,  an<l  he 
removed  to  Mamaroiieek  in  IMOIt  and  settled  in  u  iion.se 
ufterwarda  the  properly  of  I'eter  Jay  Monroe,  and 
ualle<l  the  "Mott  Home,"  oii  ii  pK'iutant  farm  adjoin- 
ing what  is  now  known  an  liarchmont.  The  oldest 
Mon  of  Adam  and  Annr  Mott,  born  in  tlieaneient  Mott 
homestead  near  the  :nouth  of  Hempstead  Harbour  in 
1788  and  uiinied  after  his  grandfather  Jamett  Mott, 
went  to  Philadelphia  and  there  married  in  1811  Lu- 
eretia Collin,  who  afterwards  as  fiUeretia  Mott  of  I'hil- 
ailelphia  became  eminent  as  a  (Quaker  preaelier  and 
eloipient  advocate  of  nniiiy  reforms.  In  1H14, lames 
and  Lueretir  Mott  spent  some  months  at  Manuiro- 
neek  on  the  invitation  id' their  Unele  Uichard  Mott  to 
jtnn  liini  in  Cotton  8pinning,  and  if  the  project  had 
been  carried  out  n.'  lirMt  proposed,  the  eio<|nent  t^iia- 
ker  Preacher  would  have  been  known  as  Lueretia  Mott 
of  Maunironcck,  itistead  of  Lueretia  Mott  of  Philadel- 
phia. Hut  she  was  then  only  21  years  old,  and 
did  not  so  much  as  imagine  that  S'he  could  speak  in 
public,  and  the  spinning  project  <iot  coming  to  satis- 
factory terms  they  returned  to  Phihulelphia.  Adam  and 
Anno  Mott's  youngest  son  liiehard,  born  at  Premium 
Point  in  1804,  now  for  many  years  the  lion.  Iliehard 
Mott  of  Toledo  Ohio  still  survives  in  a  vigorous  old 
age  of  82,  one  of  the  best  known  men  in  Northern 
Ohio. 

When  the  laws  of  the  first  Napoleon  dragged  the 
United  Slates  into  controversies  with  France  and 
England  which  culminated  in  the  war  of  1812,  Amer- 
ican Commerce  was  erijjjiled  or  ruined  and  the  Pre- 
mium Mill  at  length  went  under  a  cloud.  One 
entire  Ship's  cargo  from  the  Mill  was  confiscated  in 
France  on  a  charge  of  violating  a  paper  blockade,  and 
no  restitution  ever  made. 

James  Mott  made  Premium  Point  his  home  until 
1816  and  died  in  New  York  in  182H  in  his  eighty-first 
year.  He  was  a  man  of  culture  and  high  character, 
unusually  handsome  in  person,  tall,  erect,  and  of  much 
grace  and  dignity  of  manner  and  stood  high  in  general 
esteem.  In  dress  and  habits  he  was  always  a  strict 
Quaker  of  the  old  days,  and  active  in  the  interests  of 
his  religious  society  travelling  much  in  their  service 
in  the  States  of  New  York,  Pennsylvania  and  New 
F^ngland.  He  gave  freely  for  many  years,  in  time  and 
means,  and  in  the  use  of  his  pen  in  the  advancement 
of  Education,  and  the  suppression  of  intemperance, 


and  woi.id  allow  nothing  produced  by  Slave  labor  to  be 
used  in  his  house,  and  hm  far  as  poMiblo  limited  hia 
hoUHchold  to  Americati  Mannfacturen.  Robert  Mott, 
the  second  son  of  Jame*  Molt  of  Premium  Point  died 
in  New  York  in  IMori  and  hi«  youngest  son  Samuel 
died  there  in  I84K. 

The  Premium  Mill  continued  to  bo  operated  with 
varying  success  for  nnmy  years  and  after  .lames  Mott 
and  his  sons,  passed  through  other  hands  and  in  184.'< 
was  purchased  by  Henry  Partridge;  Kellogg  then  of 
Poughkeepsie  in  whose  family  it  remained  for  nearly 
forty  years.  The  .Mill  itself  venerable  with  age  was 
finally  removed  within  the  last  three  or  four  years, 
and  near  its  site  now  stand  several  handsome  modern 
Cottages  or  Villas. 

The  Three  Great  Patmti  of  Central  Wentcheiter. 

Very  closely  connected  with  Mamaroneck  and 
Scarsdale  as  parts  of  the  Manor  of  Scarsdale,  was  that 
part  of  the  County  lying  between  that  Manor  and 
Harrison's  Purchase  on  the  south,  the  Manor  of  Cort- 
landton  the  north,  the  Colony  of  Connecticut  on  the 
east,  and  the  Manor  of  Philipseburgh  on  the  west. 
This  immense  area  containing  7(),()()0  acres  of  latid, 
was  bought  from  the  natives  by  Colonel  Heathcote 
for  himself  and  associates  and  grunted  to  him  and 
them  in  three  extremely  large  Patents,  called  from 
their  relative  situations  the  West,  the  Middle,  and 
the  East  Patents. 

In  the  purchase  of  the  Indian  title  to  these  lands, 
and  in  the  Patents  for  them  express  provision  was 
made  that  the  rights  of  Heathcote  nntler  the  Rich- 
bell  patents  and  deeds,  should  not  be  interfered  with. 
Hence  their  long  connexion  with  his  lands  now  com- 
priseil  in  the  towns  of  Scarsdale  and  Mamaroneck. 
Those  "  Great  Patents,"'  as    they  were  styled  were 
bounded    in    part   by  Scarsdale   Manor  and   are  so 
intimately   connected    with    its    history,   that  some 
mention  must  be   briefly   made  of  them   and  their 
origin.       By    its   terms   the   Manor-Grant,  of  Scars- 
dale endiraced  White  Plains,   a   part  of  Northcas- 
;  tie,   part  of   Uedford,   and   part  of  Harrisons   Pur- 
I  chase,    but    it    expressly     provided    as    to    White 
j  Plains  that   it  should   give   its  Lord  no  other  title 
I  than    that   he  already    possessed    by  virtue   of   his 
purchase  of  the  right  title  and   estate   of  Mrs.  Ann 
I  Richbell  in  the  Estate  of  her  husband  John  Richbell 
the  origirutl  grantee  from  the  Indians  and  from  both 
I  the  Dutch  (lovernment  and  the  English  (lovernment. 
These  Great  Patents  were  not  Manors,  though  two  of 
them  were  larger  than  either  of  the  Manors  of  Pel- 
I  ham,  Morrisania  or  Fordham.      They   were  simply 
Patents  for  great  tracts  of  land  issued  according  to 
;  law  to  three  bodies  of  grantees  as  individuals,  who 
I  each  possessed  an   undivided   share,  bodies  which  in 
modern  parlance  would  be  called  "  syndicates."  They 
were  based  upon  a   license  to  Colonel  Heathcote  to 
purchase  vacant  and  unappropriated   laud  in  West- 
chester county  and  extinguish  the  title  of  the  Natives 


MAMARONKC'K. 


88 


granted  by  (Jovernitr  Fletcher  on  the  r2th  of  Ortober, 
IGiN). 

He  wait  the  ninat  proniiiient  of  the  gentlemen 
who  formed  the  boilien  above  mciitiuned  and  wlio  be- 
came the  OwniTM  und  I'utentei'ii  uf  theHe  tlireu  I'at- 
enta.  The  flrat  purchaite  made  by  Colonel  Ileuthcoto 
in  the  region  nieriiioned,  waa  from  Pathunck,  Wum- 
pun,  Cohawney,  and  Hvi  other  Indiana,  who  on  the 
19th  of  October,  Iti'.Ni,  executed  to  him  a  deed  con- 
veying "  for  and  in  conttidvration  £100  good  and  law- 
ful money  of  New  York,"  "  all  that  tract  of  land  iiitu- 
ate  lying  and  being  in  the  County  of  Westchester  in 
the  I'rovinceof  New  York  in  America,  bounded  north 
by  Hcroton's '  Uiver,  easterly  by  Byram  River  and 
Bedford  line,  southerly  by  the  land  of  John  Harrison 
and  his  associates,  and  the  line  stretching  to  Byram 
river  aforesaid,  and  westerly  to  the  land  of  Frederick 
I'hiliime."  ' 

This  covered  all  the  present  town  of  New  castle 
and  most  of  North  cuHtle  as  it  now  exists,  and  other 
lands  south  and  east  of  the  latter.  It  is  hence  some- 
times called  "  North  castle  Indian  Deed,"  or  from  one 
of  the  Indians  "  Wampus's  Land  Deed."  Colonel 
Heathcote  made  most  of  the  purchases  of  the  Indians 
of  Northern  and  Central  Westcbexter  then  inhabiting 
it,  in  accordance  with  the  customary  rule  in  such  mat- 
ters which  has  been  before  explained.  That  for  the  lands 
between  the  Mchanas'^  and  Byram  liivers,  he  delegat- 
ed his  powers  to  others  to  obtain,  by  this  license  dated 
at  Mamaroneck  the  4th  of  July  17U1,  "  I  underwritten 
do  give  free  liberty,  so  far  as  it  lyes  in  my  power  (by 
virtue  of  a  grant  to  me  from  Colonel  Benjamin  Fletcher, 
late  (Jovcrnor  of  New  York)  unto  Robert  Lockhard, 
Richard  8cotield,  Nathaniel  Selleck,  and  (lershom 
Loukwood,  to  purchase  of  the  Indian  proprietors  the 
lands  hereafter  mentioned  from  Mehanas  river  to  Byram 
River,  and  so  run  northward  three  miles  into  ye  woods 
upon  Byram  River,  and  one  mile  into  ye  Woods  on 
the  Mehanas  River,  provided  it  does  not  injure  the 
right  of  Bedford  or  Greenwich,  nor  is  within  my  pat- 
ent right  from  Mrs.  Ann  Richbell.  Witness  my  hand. 

Caleb  Heathcote. 

Mamaroneck,  July  4th,  1701. 

The  same  day  the  following  Indians  "  in  considera- 
tion of  a  certaine  sume  of  good  &  lawful  money  "  ex- 
ecuted a  deed  for  the  land  to  the  above  named  four 
persons  and  Coll.  Heathcote,  Capt.  James  Mott,  Jon- 
athan Lockhard,  GershomLockhard'sion,  and  Henry 
Disbrow,  the  same  persons  mentioned  in  Heathcote'a 
license,  thus  describing  it,  "  to  begin  at  Byram  river  at 
y'  CoUony  Line  &  so  to  run  to  Mehanas  river  as  said 
line  goes  running  northerly  on  Mehanas  river  as  y* 
river  goes  a  mile  into  y''  woods,  &  from  the  Collony 
Line  on  Byram  river  three  miles  northerly  as  the  river 


iMewCroton  River. 

•Lib.  I.  A2,  of  I)e«dB,Seo.  uf  State's  otl;  Alt«ny. 

> Now ipeiied  "  Mianiifl." 

6 


runs  into  the  Woo<ls,  A  from  the  head  of  said  line  to 
y*  head  of  the  other  line  afore  mentioned.* 
The  witnesses  were  Heringo 

Benjamin  Disbrow  Raresiiuasb  -^ 

Benjamin  Collier,  with  Washpakin 

Uraticus  and  Ilanchomo  ^^^ 

six  other  Indians  I'ackanaim  -{- 

On  the  same  fourth  of  July,  1701,  when  there  seems 
to  have  been  a  meeting  of  all  the  parties  in  interest, 
Indians  and  whites,  at  Mamaroneck,  to  consummate 
several  Indian  purchascs,'8eringo,  and  three  other  In- 
dians executed  the  following  deed  to  Joseph  Horton 
for  a  very  large  tract  indeed.  It  is  printed  verbatim 
from  the  original  in  John  Horton's  hand  writing  in 
the  writer's  posaesaion  : 

"  The  :  4 :  of  July— 1701 

"  Biet'  known  to  all  home  it  may  consarn  That  I  8a- 
ringo  hafe  This  day  Sold  unto  Joseph  Horton  saner 
(senior)  A  sarten  Track  or  pareal  of  Land  Setuaten 
and  Lyen  within  the  profence  (province)  of  Nu 
Yorcke  which  land  beginen  at  the  purch[a«e]  lastly 
purch*^  by  Cornal  Hacoc"  John  Horton  Cap" 
Thall  Joseph'  Purdy  and  all  the  Land  from  biram 
reuer '  wassward  unpurch""  and  so  to  run  upward  to 
brunkess  reuer,'  and  I  Haringo  do  oblidge  myself  my 
ars'"  orassinstomarcket"  outebyMark  Trecseasmay 
aper  her  agan "  and  This  To  be  marcked  oute  The 
Sext:  or  Saventh  Day  of  Thisentant"  munth  and  for 
the  Tru  Burformance  I  haf  Sat  ray  hand  and  Sale 
Sineded  Saled  and  Dleaved  In  pranta  of  ua  Thia  been 
in  order  To  a  furder  confmashon.    , 


Saringo  -(- 
and  three  other 
Indians  (namea 
illegible). 


John  Horton 
(illegible)  Hattield 
Hannah  park 

hit 

John  -f-  Cake 

Diaric 
his 

Robard  -f  Smeth 

nurli 


Endorsed  upon  the  deed  is  this  statement  of  the 
consideration  by  Horton, 
I  Joseph  Horton  oblige  mysalf  To  pay  one  Sarengo 


<  Aiu'iriit  copy  of  tlie  nrigjiial  ili'ed  villi  llealhcote't  licenM  appended. 
Id  the  writer's  poMrwiun.  Alao  recorded  in  Weet.  Co.  tUecordi  Lib. 
C,  96. 

>B«it. 

'  Colonel  Ileatlicotc. 

'  Capt.  Tbeall. 

•Byram  Ri»er  westward  unptirchixHl.  ,_ 

•Bronx  River.  ^      ;, 

'"Helm.  ,  . 

"Markit.  ■    ;       _   -,  ,--,';    ,  •       r-  „-  ■  ,„    .,■;. 

>*  Appear  here  again.  , 

"  InsUiit.  , 


MAMARONKCK. 


::  ■»■;.*-> 


he  performen  hia  part  accorded  to  bagen  *  as  may 
apen  connsarnend  Land  which  he  Is  or  (illegible) 
to  performe 

The  a  buv  named  horton  Is  obliged  To  Pay  Sringo 
aud  the  raa '  of  his  (illegible)  as  folas ' 

1  barel  of  Sidar  :■  •  ; 

6  Shurts 

5  galans  of  rum 
^  ICot 
•    1  shepe 

And  this  to  be  payd  at  or  before  The  furst  day  of 
Jnery  *  nex  in  (three  small  words  illegible)  The  day 
mansbshened'  July:  4:  17001'  ,  ,, ., 

-'"■  '     ? 

1  hors:  1  Sadal :  1  bridal  '        '" 

.:  i ,,(     ■.•,,,1---  ?'  1  >;i  .■ 

2  cots 

leaf  •■•  :^  ■  ^    :    • 


2  shurds ' 

1  ancher  of  rum  "  " 


•■<!•  <h.: 


This  deed  included  all  the  land  that  hud  not  before 
been  purchased,  from  Byram  River  northwestward  to 
the  Bronx  River.  In  the  month  of  June  preceding, 
on  the  eleventh,  twenty-three  days  prior  to  the  execu- 
tion of  the  above  deed,  Seriugo  and  two  other  Indians 
"in  consideratione  of  a  certain  sum  of  money"  deeded 
to  Colonel  Heathcote,  Capt.  Joseph  Theal,  Lieut.  John 
Horton,'  and  Mr  Joseph  Purdy  of  Mamaroneck  a 
tract  "bounded  as  followeth, — Southerly  by  Byram 
River,  Northerly  to  the  Northwest  corner  of  a  great 
swamp  commonly  culled  the  Round  Kwauip,  thence  a 
southwesterly  line  to  Rye,  great  Pond,  and  bounded 
by  the  said  pond  westerly,  and  so  runs  to  Harrisons 
great  marked  tree." 

On  the  5th  of  July  1701,  the  same  Seriugo  and 
the  other  Indians  deeded  to  Heathcote,  Theal,  Joseph 
Horton,  and  Purdy  a  tract  bounded  "southerly  by 
the  Colony  Line,  easterly  by  Mehanus  River,  north- 
erly by  Bedford  line  and  marked  trees  to  Mehanus 
River,  and  southerly  as  said  river  goes  against  the 
stream  to  the  head  thereof."  '" 

On  the  27th  of  March  1702  a  deed  for  lands  north 
of  Cross  River  above  Bedford  village  was  executed 
to  Colonel  Heathcote  by  Katonah  the  Sagamore  of 
all  that  region,  which  as  it  is  not  recorded  is  here 
given  from  the  original  in  the  hand  writing  of  the 


'    >Acc<mllng  to  bargain. 

8  KuUuWB. 

<J»niii»ry. 

*  Montluiitxl. 

*8o  In  tliu  original.  > 

r  Bhirta. 

'Till!  «xtraonlinnrf  deed  li  wrltUiD  on  the  reverse  ilde  of  a  privHte 
letter  to  Joseph  Horton  from  one  Samuel  IlfTurd,  dnted  "  Stratford  the 
Ulh  day  of  May,"  but  no  yeir  ;  it  is  nut  recorded. 

9  The  drauglitenian  of  the  last  ln<Uan  deed. 
x>  Rec,  In  "  Albany  Recortli,"  i.  p.  »4. 


noted  Zachariah  Roberts  "  of  Bedford,  in  the  writer's 
possession : 

Katonah' B  Deed  to  Col.  Caleb  Heathcote. 

"  This  Bill  of  Seall  bearing  date  in  the  year  one 
thousand  seven  hundred  and  two  :  testifyeth  that  we 
Katonah,  Wackamane  and  Wewanapeag  proprietors 
of  the  sd  land  afternamed  lying  above  Bedford  and 
bounded  Southward  by  Cross  Riuer,  eastward  by 
Marked  trees,  westward  by  Cortlandt's  land  &  North- 
wards petticua  Small  Riuer,  which  sd  track  of  land 
is  estimasion  is  five  miles  long  and  three  miles  wide : 
this  above  sd.  upland  &  medow  land  we  Katonah 
Wackamane  and  Wewanapeag,  we  for  ourselves  and 
from  our  ayrs  and  all  other  Indians  whatsuineuer  do 
sell,  alienate,  asigne,  &  set  over  this  abousd  land  lying 
in  the  County  of  Westchester  &  in  ye  provence  of 
New  Yorck  unto  Cornall  Caleb  Hethcut  of  Mama- 
ranuck  and  Captain  petter  "  Mathews  of  new  Yorck, 
Joseph  purdy  of  Ry  and  Richard  ScofTeld  of  Stan- 
ford, or  any  other  conserned  in  the  aboue  said  pur- 
ches.  We  the  aboue  sd  indiens  trew  proprietr.rs  of  ye 
aboue  sd  land  as  the  bounds  are  named  we  have  sold 
&  doe  set  over  from  us  our  ayrs  executors  administra- 
tors, or  asignes  for  euer  unto  the  aboue  named  Caleb 
Hethcut,  petter  Mathews,  Joseph  Purdy,  Richard 
Scoffeld  to  them  their  ayrs  executors  administrators 
and  asignes  for  euer  with  all  the  rights  titles  privileges 
&  apurtenances  thereunto  belonging  promising  to 
them  &  theyrs  that  they  shall  enioye  the  same  pees- 
ably  without  let  or  molestation  from  us  or  ours  or  any 
other  Indians  laying  any  claimc  thereunto  for  euer, 
and  we  doe  acknowledg  that  we  have  reciucd  full 
satisfacktion  for  the  aboue  said  track  of  land  as 
witness  our  hands  and  sealls  this  27  day  of  March 
1702. 


Signeil  Seal  led  and  delivered 
in   Bedford  in   the  pres 
ance  of  us 

Zechariah  Roberts         ■      i  ■ 

John  Dibell 

John  Miller  . 

Chickheag    -f- 

Caconico       -|- 

Arottom       -|-         .' 

Mangockem-f- 


Katonah  + 
Wackamane  -f- 
Wewanapetig  -|- 


Acount  of  good 


to  one  6  guns 
to  anker  of  rum 
to  20  bars  of  lead 
to  12  drain  **  knifs 


to  12  par  sockins 
to  12  citels  " 
to  (>  iron  citels 
to  cotun  cloth 


>i  Roberta  was  the  leading  man  of  Bedford,  noted  for  hii  bitter  hoitlllty 
to  the  Cliurch  of  England,  and  bin  intense  desire  to  profit  by  all  the 
public  eniploymeniB  he  could  obtain. 

M  Peter. 

u  Sickles.  14  Urawing-kniTsi. ; 


MAMARONECK. 


35 


to  20  knifa 
to  12  hos ' 
to  12  awordR 
to  12  axis  " 


to  dufils  > 

tu  blankita 

to  10  barils  of  aider ' 


One  of  the  peraona  prominently  engaged  with  Col- 
onel Heathcote  in  obtaining  the  several  Indian  deeda 
above  set  forth  for  the  lands  between  Harrison  and 
the  Croton  River  waa  Joseph  Horton  of  Rye  the 
grantee  in  the  above  deed  of  the  4th  of  July  1701  for 
all  the  unpurchased  land  between  Byrain  river  and 
the  Bronx.  The  following  instrument  shows  the 
nature  of  the  agreentent  between  them  and  incident- 
ally Heathcote'a  precise  view  of  his  own  bounds  and 
what  belonged  to  him  under  hia  Richbell  convey- 
ances in  the  territory  covered  by  the  foregoing  Indian 
deeda  and  the  three  great  patents  subsequently  based 
upon  them. 

Agreetnent  of  Joseph  Horton  with  Colonel  Heathcote. 

Whereas  by  virtue  of  a  License  from  Coll.  Benj" 
ffletcher  late  Governor  of  this  Province  unto  Coll. 
Caleb  Heathcote  impowering  him  to  buy  any  lands 
from  the  Indian  Proprietors  betwixt  Scroton's  River  * 
and  the  north  end  of  Harrisson's  Pattent,  the  said 
Heathcote  and  Joseph  Horton  have  [bought]  &  are 
about  to  buy  of  the  Indian  Proprietors  considerable 
tracts  &  parcells  of  Land ;  Now  know  all  men  by 
these  presents  that  It  is  mutually  agreed  &  concluded 
betwixt  the  said  Caleb  Heathcote  &  Joseph  Horton 
that  such  parts  of  any  tract  or  parcells  of  land  bought 
by  them  of  the  indian  Proprietors  as  falls  within 
said  Heathcote'a  lines  by  virtue  of  his  deeds  from 
Mrs.  Ann  Richbell  late  deceased,  the  bounds  whereof 
run  with  Mamaronock  River  to  the  head  thereof 
thence  in  a  north  line  twenty  miles  into  the  woods 
from  Westchester  Path,  now  all  such  lands  as  fall 
within  the  lines  of  those  deeds  as  before  mentioned 
shall  be  and  remain  to  the  said  Caleb  Heathcote  his 
Heirs  &  assigns  forever  notwithstanding  any  deed  or 
bill  of  sale  in  Partnership  betwixt  said  Heathcote  & 
Horton  to  them  from  the  Indians,  the  said  Heathcote 
paying  and  bearing  the  full  charge  of  the  purchase  of 
all  such  land  as  "ills  within  hisiincsafToresaid,  &  the 
said  Heathcote  not  claiming  a  greater  breadth  through 
said  purchase  that  is,  or  shall  hereafter  be  made  by 
him  &  said  Horton,  than  he  has  at  Westchester  Path, 
which  is  from  Mamoronock  River  to  PijMn's  brook 
adjoyneing  the  great  Neck.  In  witness  whereof  the 
said  Joseph  Horton  hath  here  unto  sett  his  hand  & 
seal  this  (fourteenth  of  July  in  the  year  of  our  Lord 
one  thousand  seven  hundred  &  one. 

Signed  Sealed  &  Delivered  in  presence  of 
Benjamin  Collier 


>  A  cokrae  and  thick,  but  luft  woulen  clotli  made  In  Holland. 
<HaM. 

>  Thla  waa  a  very  good  price  fur  that  day. 
«  Now  CrotuD  BlTer. 


Anne  Millington 

Joseph  Horton  (L.  S.)' 

Out  of  the  lands  the  Indian  title  to  wnioh  was  ex- 
tinguished by  the  various  Indian  deeda  above  set 
forth  were  formed  the  three  Great  Patents  mat  have 
been  mentioned,  the  West  Patent  dated  H"-  February 
1701  to  ten  Patentees,  the  Middle  Patent  dated  17"" 
February  1701  to  13  Patentees,  and  the  East  Patent 
dated  2"  March  1701  to  11  Patentees.  Ten  of  theae 
Patentees  were  the  same  in  all  three  Patents.  They 
were  the  ten  persons  to  whom  the  West  Patent,  the 
earliest  of  the  three,  was  issued,  and  their  names 
were  Robert  Walters,  Leigh  Attwood,  Cornelius  De 
Peyster,  Caleb  Heathcote,  Matthew  Clarkson,  John 
Chollwell,  Richard  Slater,  Robert  Lurting,  Barne 
Cosens,  Lancaster  Symes,  all  well  known  as  promi- 
nent men  of  the  City  and  Province  i>f  New  York. 
In  the  Middle  Patent  in  addition  to  the  above  ten, 
Joseph  Theale,  John  Horton,  and  Joseph  Purdy,  all 
of  Rye,  appear  as  Patentees.  In  the  East  Patent 
besides  the  above  ten  Peter  Mathews  of  Bedford  a])- 
l)ears  as  a  Patentee.  Several  of  these  Patentees  held 
their  shares  not  for  themselves  but  in  trust  for  friends 
and  some  of  them  sold  their  shares  to  other  persons. 

Immediately  after  the  Patents  were  issued,  all  the 
different  Patentees  named  in  each  executed  joint  cove- 
nants under  seal,  that  no  survivorship  should  take  place 
among  them,  and  that  each  should  be  divided  into  ns 
many  distinct  parts  as  there  were  Patentees.  The 
covenant  for  the  West  Patent  was  dated  February 
18'"  1702,  those  for  the  Middle  and  East  Patents  were 
both  dated  the  same  day,  the  25*  of  June  1702.* 

The  following  statement  showing  in  the  three 
Patents,  the  changes  of  the  Patentees  names,  the 
Quit-rents  payable  for  each,  the  number  of  acres  of 
improvable  land  in  each,  and  their  respective  boun- 
daries, is  from  the  original  in  the  writer's  possession. 
It  is  undated,  but  was  evidently  made  out  in  Colonel 
Heathcote's  lifetime,   and  probably   about   1715  or 

1716. 

The  West  Patent.  ,_     . 

"  Patent :  14  Feb :  1701  ,;     .      ,,  t.^-      ,' 

5000  Acres  Improvable  Land  '  \     '-' 

ilG,  5, 0,  Quit-Rent 


10  Shares. 
Patentees  Names 
R.Walter 
L.  Atwood 
C.  Depeyster 
C.  Heathcote 
M.  Clarkson 
Jno.  Chollwell 
R.  Slater 
R.  Lurting 
Barne  Cosens 


In  trust  for  or  sold  to, 
Schellcnx  &  Lyon 
Clarksona 


Quinby   . 

T,  Weaver 
C.  Heathcote 
Peter  Fanconnier 


'  Original  <le«d  in  Colo.  Hoatlicote's  handwriting  in  (Hiwewiuii  or  tlie 
writer.     It  in  not  rccordoit, 

c  From  ancient  copiea  of  these  covenanta  in  th*  wriler'a  poaieaeion. 


MAMARONECK. 


Bounded 

Northerly, 

By  Croton  River  and  the  Mannor  of  Cortlandt,  or  one 
of  them. 

Easterly, 

With  Bedford  Line  of  Three  Miles  Square,  the  White 
Fields,  and  Byram  Point. 

Southerly, 
By  the  land  of  John  Harrison  &c,  Ry»  Line  stretch- 
ing to  Biram  River  and  the  White  Plains, 

Westerly, 
By  Brunk's  River  and  the  Mannor  of  Philipshurgh, 
Excepting  out  of  y*  Bounds  aforesaid  all  y*  Lands 
within  Richbell's  Patent,  now  in  y'TenourA  occupa- 
tion of  Coll.  Caleb  Heathcote. 

The  MiddU  Patent. 

"  Patent :  17  February,  1701 
•  1500  Acres  Improvable  Land 

-  ;,i      £1,  17,  6  Quit  Rent 

13  Shares  '  '     "■ 


Patentees  Names 
C.  Heathcote 
Jo.  Theale 
J.  Horton 
J.  Purdy 
R.  Walter        ,    . 
Leigh  Atwood 
M.  Clarkson 
Lan.  Symes 
C.  De  Peyster 
R.  Slater 
John  ChoUwell 
Barne  Cosens 
Robert  Lurting 


In  Trust  for  or  Sold  to 


■41  ):■: 


Schellinx  &  Lyon 
Clarksons  , 


Y'  Heirs  Coll.  Depeyster 
Tho.  Weaver 

Quinby 

P.  Fanconnier 
C.  Heathcote       ,, 
Bounded         <..■■■■  >     ■ 

Southerly, 
by  the  Division  Line  betweene  y'  Colony  of  Connecti- 
cut and  the  Province  of  New  York  paruUell  to  the 
Sound. 

Easterly, 
By  Mahanas  River. 

Northerly,  ' '  ^ 

by  Bedford  Line  and  Mark'    Trees  runiug  westerly 

to  Mahanas  River.  . .      • 

Westerly,  -    -  ' ,  •  -  . 

again  and  as  the  said  River  goes  against  the  stream  to 
the  head  thereof,  then  along  the  Easterly  branch  of 
Biram  River  to  the  said  Colony  Line  again  where  the 
same  began. 

The  East  Patent 

"Patent:  2  March  1701 
6200  Acres  Improvable  Land 
£7,  16,  0,  Quit-Rent 
11  Shares. 


Patentees  Names 
Ro.  Walter 
Jno.  Chollwell 
L.  Atwood 
C.  De  Peyster 
R.  Slater 
Barne  Cosens 
M.  Clarkson 
Lan.  Symes 
Rob.  Lurting 
Peter  Mathews 
Caleb  Heathcote 


In  Trust  for  or  sold  to 
Schellinx  &  Lyon 

Quinby 

Clarksons 

T.  Weaver  • 

P.  Fanconnier 


C.  Heathcote 


Bounded  '  ^ 

South 
by  the  Division  Line  between  N.  Y.  and  said  Colony  of 
Connecticut,  and  so  along  said  Line  until  it  meets  with 
the  Patent  of  Adolph  Philipse,  and  so  along  his  south- 
ern bounds  till  it  meets  with  the  Mannor  of  Cortlandt 
and  from  thence  by  a  Line  that  shall  run  upon  a 
direct  course  until  it  meets  with  the  first  easterly  Line 
of  20  of  the  said  Mannor  of  Cortlandt,  and  from  thence 
along  the  said  line  Westerly  till  it  meets  with  the  Pat- 
ent granted  to  R.  Walter  &  others,  thence  southerly 
along  the  said  Patent  untill  it  meets  with  the  bounds 
of  the  Township  of  Bedford  &  thence  round  along 
said  bounds  untill  it  meets  with  the  patent  granted  to 
Coll.  Heathcote  and  others,  and  along  the  bounds  of 
said  Patent  unto  the  Colony  Line  where  it  first  began. — 

Also  a  small  Tract  of  Land  beginning  westerly  at  a 
great  Rock  on  the  Westmost  side  at  the  Southmost 
end  of  a  Ridge  Known  by  the  Name  of  Richboll  or 
Horse  Ridge  and  from  thence  Northwest  and  by  North 
to  Brunk's  River,  Easterly  beginning  at  a  mark'd  Tree 
at  the  Eastmost  side  on  the  Southmost  end  of  the  said 
Ridge  and  thence  north  to  Brunk's  River." 

This  West  Patent  by  its  bounds  excluded  White- 
plains,  which  Colonel  Heathcote  claimed  under  his 
Richbell  deeds  and  Patents.  This  led  to  a  contro- 
versy between  him  and  some  "  Rye  Men "  who 
claimed  Whiteplains  as  a  part  of  their  town.  This 
claim  however  remained  passive,  and  nothing  but  a 
claim  during  Colonel  Heathcote's  life  as  the  result  of 
the  Richbell  verdict  against  Rye  in  1696  (set  forth 
above  in  full)  the  year  before  Colonel  Heathcote 
bought  the  Richbell  estate  of  Ann  Richbell.  The 
I  1  was  then  worth  very  little,  and  the  Rye  claim- 
auw  were  very  few.  Colonel  Heathcote  died  Febru- 
ary 28,  172(F-21,  and  his  entire  estate  passed  under 
his  will  to  if  s  two  daughters,  Ann,  the  elder,  subse- 
quently the  wife  of  James  de  Lancey  chief  justice  of 
the  Province  of  New  York  who  died  its  Governor  in 
1760,  and  Martha,  the  younger,  subsequently  the 
wife  of  Lewis  Johnston,  M.D.,  of  Perth  Amboy,  New 
Jersey,  who  died  in  1774.  His  widow,  Mrs.  Martha 
Heathcote,  was  the  sole  executrix.  By  her  and  the 
two  gentlemen  just  named,  in  the  course  of  time, 
settlements  were  effected  of  Colonel  Heathcote's  in- 
terests in  Whiteplains,  the  three  patents  above  men- 
tioned and  in  Harrisson's  purchase. 


MAMARONECK. 


37 


In  relation  to  White  plains  it  has  been  stated  er- 
roneously that  Colonel  Heathcote  died,  "  about  four 
years  later  "  than  1702,  in  which  year  a  committee  of 
Bye  people  were  appointed  to  agree  with  him  on  a 
line  between  his  Patent  and  White  plains,  and  that 
the  question  remained  "  still  unsettled."  ^  This  is  an 
entire  mistake,  Colonel  Heathcote  lived  nearly  twenty 
years  instead  of  four,  after  1702,  and  maintained  his 
right  to  White  plains,  but  was  always  ready  to  agree 
with  the  Bye  people  about  the  matter,  but  they, 
though  occasionally  talking  about  it,  practically  re- 
mained passive,  in  consequence  of  the  Bichbell  ver- 

'  diet  against  them  of  December  3,  1696,  above  set 
forth.  Not  till  after  Colonel  Heathcote's  death, 
which  occurred  on  February  28, 1720-21,  was  the  matter 
closed,  though  negotiations  were  pending  in  his  life- 
time, and  Governor  Burnet's  Patent  for  White  plains 
was  issued  to  Joseph  Budd,  Humphrey  Underbill  and 
others,  bearing  date  the  13th  of  March  1721.  The 
Patentees  named  therein,  with  four  or  five  exceptions, 
were  entirely  different  men  from  the  "  proprietors  of 
the  White  plaines  purchase " '  whose  names  appear 
in  a  li!>t  taken  from  the  Bye  Town  Becords  under 
date  of  1720,  in  Bolton's  History,  (1st  ed.  vol.  ii.  p. 
341)  and  copied  in  Baird's  Bye  and  Bolton's  second 
edition.  This  list  was  probably  one  of  the  proprie- 
ors  of  some  part  of  the  grants  embracing  the  present 
tcwnship  of  Bye. 

The  terms  of  the  settlement  with  Bye  of  adjoining 
lands  with  Colonel  Heathcote's  representatives,  about 
which  there  was  dispute  are  thus  set  forth,  in  "  Notes 
of  agreement  between  Bye  and  Devisees  of  Heath- 
cote," in  the  writer's  possession  i — "  Bye  is  to  give  us 
their  title  to  all  lauds  which  we  claim  in  Harrison's 
purchase,  as  also  to  all  the  lands  lying  between  the 
old  CoUony  Line  and  Mamaroneck  Biver  and  the 
White  plains.  We  are  to  give  them  the  benefit  of 
the  covenants  in  Jamison's  deed  ta  Coll.  Heathcote 
for  the  purchase  lands."  This  was  carried  out  by  a 
deed  from  Bobert  Bloomer,  John  Budd,  Samuel 
Purdy,  John  Horton,  Nathan  Kniffen,  John  Disbrow, 
Samuel  Brown,  Boger  Park,  Joseph  Oalpin,  Abra- 
ham Brundige,  and  nineteen  other  inhabitants  of  Bye 
and  White  plains,  to  Mrs.  Ann  de  Lancey  and  Mrs. 
Martha  Johnston  dated  September  6th  1739  for  all 
the  lands  referred  to  in  the  above  agreement.'  In 
connection  with  these  matters  it  must  be  borne  in 

,  mind  that  when  the  first  claim  of  the  Bye  people  was 
defeated  by  the  verdict  against  them  in  favor  of  Mrs. 
Bichbellof  Decembers,  1696,  they  were  already  greatly 
angered  by  the  grant  of  the  Patent  to  John  Harrison 
and  his  associates  for  what  has  ever  since  been  known 
as  "Harrison's  Purchase"  by  the  Governor  of  New 
'   York,  on  the  25th  of  June  1696,  about  six  months 


>  IWrd'i  Htatory  of  Bye,  p.  166.  The  annie  erroneo<is  statement  wu 
copied  flroni  Baird  into  the  lecond  edition  of  Bolton'i  Weetrheater,  vol. 
Ii.  p.  US. 

<  Bo  atjrled  in  Baird,  Hiat.  Rye,  p.  150. 

*  rrom  an  aoolent  copy  of  the  deed  in  the  writer'*  poaaaaaioo. 


before  the  verdict  was  rendered.  They  claimed  that 
territory  under  an  Indian  deed  to  Peter  Disbrow  and 
three  others  of  2d  June  1662,  for  "  a  certain  tract  of 
land  above  Westchester  Path  to  the  marked  trees 
bounded  with  the  above  said  Blind  Brook,"  (this  is 
the  whole  description)  and  as  being  in  Connecticut 
of  which  they  insisted  Bye  was  a  part,  but  they  never 
would  take  out  a  patent  for  it.  Hence  when  the 
Quaker  Harrison,  and  his  four  or  five  associates,  ap- 
plied to  the  New  York  government  for  a  grant  of  it 
as  "unappropriated  and  vacant  land"  it  was,  after 
due  deliberation,  granted  them  by  Patent.  In  order 
to  quiet  the  border  disputes  of  that  day  they  had  pre- 
viously tried  to  get  the  people  of  Bye  to  take  out  a 
patent  for  this  land,  but  they  always  refused  to  do  so. 
This  grant  for  Harrison's  Purchase,  and  the  Bichbell 
verdict  coming  only  about  six  months  afler  it,  was 
more  than  the  Bye  people  thought  they  could  bear, 
and  therefore,  early  in  1697,  they  revolted,  seceded 
from  New  York,  and  again  set  themselves  up  as  a 
part  of  Connecticut.  The  New  York  government  by 
peaceful  means  tried  to  bring  them  back,  but  in  vain, 
and  this  secession  continued  for  about  three  years, 
until  King  William  by  a  sharp  "  Order  in  Council," 
made  on  the  28th  of  March,  1700,  ordered  them  back 
to  the  old  jurisdiction,  in  the  words  of  the  order 
"forever  thereafter  to  remain  under  the  Government 
of  the  Province  of  New  York."  *  That  government 
in  the  beginning  had  even  tendered  them  a  Patent, 
and  Colonel  Heathcote,  who  was  one  of  the  Gover- 
nor's Council,  at  the  request  of  the  latter,  in  1697 
went  to  Bye,  and  personally  endeavored  to  settle  the 
controversy.  His  letter  to  the  Governor  and  Council 
describing  his  visit  and  its  failure,  gives  the  facts  of 
the  case  very  clearly,  and  they  prove  that  their  own 
folly  lost  the  Harrison  lands  to  the  people  of  Bye. 
"  I  asked  them  "  he  says,  "  why  they  did  not  take  out 
a  patent  when  it  was  tendered  them.  They  said  they 
never  heard  that  they  could  have  one.  I  told  them 
that  their  argument  might  pass  with  such  as  knew 
nothing  of  the  matter,  but  that  I  knew  better ;  for 
that  to  my  certain  knowledge  they  might  have  had 
a  patent  had  they  not  rejected  it ;  and  that  it  was  so 
far  from  being  done  in  haste  or  in  the  dark,  that  not 
a  boy  in  the  whole  Town,  nor  almost  in  the  County, 
but  must  have  heard  of  it ;  and  that  I  must  always  be 
a  witness  against  them,  not  only  of  the  many  mes- 
sages they  have  hud  from  the  Government  about  it, 
but  likewise  from  myself."      *  *  *  * 

"  I  told  them  as  to  the  last  purchase  wherein  I  was 
concerned,  if  that  gave  them  any  dissatisfaction, 
that  I  would  not  only  quit  my  claim,  but  use  my  in- 
terest in  getting  them  any  part  of  it  they  should  de- 
sire. Their  answer  was,  they  valued  not  that;  it 
was  Harrison's  Patent  that  was  their  ruin." ' 


Mt.  Ool.  mat.  r.27. 

•  Vol.  xii.  p. ;«)  of  the  Col.  Haa.  In  Sec.  of  State'a  office,  Albany.    It 
la  printed  in  Baird's  Hist,  of  Bye,  p.  100. 


38 


MAMARONECK. 


tBome  five  years  after  the  granting  of  the  West 
Patent  to  Robert  Walter  and  hi8  assouiatea  in  1701, 
the  southern  part  of  it  on  the  Byram  River  was,  in 
derogation  of  their  rights,  granted  to  Anne  Bridges 
and  four  others  of  the  town  of  Rye.  The  West  Paten- 
tees remained  (luietly  in  possession  however  of  all  their 
territory.  About  twenty-three  years  afler  the  issu- 
ing of  the  West  Patent,  and  about  two  after  Colonel 
Heathcote's  death,  a  suit  in  ejectment  was  brought,  by 
the  persons  named  in  the  Bridges  grant  of  1705-6 
against  Robert  Walter  and  other  owners  of  the  West 
Patent.  The  reasons  for  it  are  now  unknown  as  the 
latter  had  never  been  disturbed  in  the  possession  of 
their  lands  by  any-body.  It  was  unsuccessful  how- 
ever. The  following  curious  and  interesting  paper 
entitled  "  A  true  state  of  the  case,"  gives  all  the  facts, 
and  also  shows  how  thoroughly  Colonel  Heathcote 
was  even  then  considered  "authority"  in  West- 
chester County  matters.  Its  author,  evidently  a  law- 
yer, is  unknown,  but  it  is  in  the  small,  clear,  beauti- 
ful, handwriting  of  Peter  Fauconnier  an  owner,  by 
trust  or  by  purchase,  in  all  three  of  the  great  Patents 
above  mentioned,  and  one  of  the  best  surveyors  of 
that  day.  It  is  printed  from  the  original  in  the 
writer's  possession. 

"  A  true  state  of  the  case. 

Between  the  ejector  John  Horton  &c.,  and  Robert 
Walter  &c.,  in  behalf  of  the  ejected,  for  lands  in 
Westchester  County. 

"  Coll.  Caleb  Heathcote  well  acquainted  with 
the  North  bounds  of  the  Tract  of  land  called  Well's 
and  Coxe's  purchases,  being  the  lands  long  before 
claimed  by,  and  since  patented  to,  the  Town  of  Rye 
the  11th  day  of  August  1720; 

"  With  the  East  and  North  bounds  of  the  lands 
granted  the  25th  day  of  June,  1696,  to  William  Nicoll 
Esq.,  Ebenezer  Willson,  David  Jamison,  John  Harri- 
son, and  Bamuel  Haight,  called  Harrison's  purchase ; 

"  With  the  North  bounds  of  the  lands  claimed  by 
the  Inhabitants  of  White  Plains ; 

"  With  the  Eastmost  bounds  of  the  several  con- 
tiguous tracts  of  laud  granted  the  23rd  day  of  Decem- 
ber, 1684,  to  Frederick  Phillipse,  and  the  course  of 
Brunks  river ; 

"  With  the  South  bounds  of  those  granted  the  17th 
of  June,  1697,  to  Coll.  Stephen  Cortlandt ; 

"  With  the  North  and  West  bounds  of  the  lands  be- 
longing to  the  Town  of  Bedford  ; 

"  And  well  knowing  how,  and  where,  the  three 
several  lines  which  have  to  divide  this  Province  from 
the  Colony  of  Connecticut,  are  to  fall  and  to  run,  and 
consequently  the  location,  extent,  and  limits,  of  the 
then  still  vacant  lands  adjoining  thereunto ;  he  did 
acquaint  there  with  the  Persons  hereinafter  named 
jointly  with,  and  for  the  use  of,  whom,  with  and  by 
the  assistance  of  Joseph  Theale,  John  Horton,  Joseph 
Purdy,  Nathaniel  Beleick,  Richard  Scofeild,  James 
Mott,  and  Henry  Disbrow,  he  did  wholly  and  law- 
fully purchase  the  same. 


"  Being  all  that  certain  tract  of  land  in  the  County 
of  Westchester,  bounded  Northerly  by  the  Manor  of 
Cortlandt,  Easterly  with  Bedford  line  of  three  miles 
square,  the  Whitefeilds,  and  Byram  River,  Southerly 
by  the  Colony  second  line.  Rye  line  stretching  to 
Byram  River,  the  land  of  John  Harrison,  and  the 
White  Plains,  and  Westerly  by  Brunk's  river  and 
the  Mannor  of  Philipsburgh.  On  the  return  of  which 
purchase  the  said  Coll.  Heathcote  and  his  associates 
applyed  for,  and  on  the  14th  day  of  February  1701-2, 
obtained  the  Crown's  Grant  for  the  same.  To  Robert 
Walter,  Leigh  Atwood,  Cornelius  Depyster,  Caleb 
Heathcote,  Mathew  Clarkson,  John  Cholwell,  Rich- 
ard Slater,  Lancaster  Symes,  Robert  Lurting  [in 
Quest  for  the  said  Coll.  Heathcote  again]  and  Barn6 
Cosens,  under  £6,  5. — Quitrent. 

"Notwithstanding  all  w'"  yet,  and  the  said  Ian  is 
being  vacant  and  unappropriated,  the  purchass  there- 
of was  so  lawfully  made,  and  the  grant  obtained :  On 
the  12th  day  of  January,  1706,  being  near  five  years 
after,  Anne  Bridges,  John  Clap,  Augustin  Qraham, 
John  Horton,  and  Thomas  Height,  on  a  wrong  notion 
of  an  insufficiency  of  power  and  authority  in  the  then 
Lieutenant-Oovernour  to  grant  the  above  mentioned 
tract  to  the  above  named  purchasers  thereof,  and  on 
such  other  groundless  surmises,  did  sue  for  and  then 
obtained,  an  other  posterior  grant  for  the  Southern 
part  of  the  same  individual  tract  of  Land : 

"  It  being  for  A  certain  tract  of  land  in  the  county 
of  Westchester  within  the  Province  of  New  York,  be- 
ginning at  a  Beach  tree  standing  by  Byram  river  near 
a  great  rock,  markt  with  the  letters  I.  H.  I.  P.  I.  C, 
thence  running  up  the  said  river  North  North  West 
to  a  certain  Ash  Tree,  on  the  upper  end  of  a  place 
commonly  called  Pondpound's  Neck,  marked  with 
the  letters  aforesaid  &c  to  the  Colony  line.  Westerly 
to  the  eight  miles  stake  standing  between  three  white 
oak  trees  markt  [viz.]  one  of  the  said  trees  is  marked 
with  the  letters  C  C  R  on  the  north  side  and  Y  D  un 
the  south  side,  and  from  the  said  trees  on  a  direct  line, 
runs  to  the  Northernmost  corner  of  Rye  pond,  and 
thence  south  ten  degrees  Westerly  to  a  white  oak  sap- 
ling marked  by  the  Pond  side  with  the  letters  T.  I.  P. 
thence  by  a  range  of  marked  trees  south  sixty  four 
degrees  East  to  an  Ash  Tree  standing  by  Blind  Brook 
on  the  East  side  thereof,  and  thence  by  another  range 
of  marked  trees  to  a  certain  Chestnut  tree  markt  with 
the  letters  J.  P.  on  the  North  side,  on  the  West  side, 
with  the  letters  I.  P.  on  the  south  side  with  the  letters 
I.  H.  and  thence  by  a  range  of  marked  trees  to  the 
place  where  it  begun. 

"That  this  last-mentioned  grant  is  all  included 
in,  and  that  the  east,  south,  and  most  of  the  west 
bounds  thereof  are,  the  very  same  with  the  southmost 
ones  specified  in  the  aforementioned  grant  of  the  14th 
February,  1701-2  to  Robert  Walter  Ac.,  will  unques- 
tionably appear  by  comparing  the  southern  bounds 
of  the  one  with  those  of  the  other,  and  both  with  the 
northern  bounds  of  the  Patent  granted  the  11th  day 


MAMARONECK. 


39 


of  August,  1720,  to  Samuel  Purdy  and  others  for  the 
Township  of  Rye,  and  with  the  eastern  and  northern 
bounds  of  that  granted  to  William  Nicoll  &c.,  the 
2dth  day  of  June,  1696,  called  Harrison's  Lands,  or 
Harrison's  Purchase. 

"Matters  relating  to  that  aifair  being  in  reality  as 
hath  been  related,  the  several  questions  which  do 
naturally  arise  therefrom,  are,  first,  what  could  induce 
thcHe  last  Patentees  to  sue  for  a  Grant  of  that  laud 
in  1705-6,  which  they  well  knew  had  been  already 
patented  in  1701-2.  Secondly,  Why,  having  been  at  the 
trouble  and  charges  thereof,  they  not  only  left  the 
said  first  Patentees  so  long  quietly  owne,  but  also 
survey  the  same,  and  not  only  be  present  thereat 
without  the  least  objection,  but  also  shew  them  the 
East  and  North  lines  of  Well's  and  Harrixon's  pur- 
chasses ;  to  let  them  dispose  of  several  pieces  part  of 
it,  and  the  buyers  thereof  without  interruption  en- 
joy the  same  about  23  years  after  that  first  grant  was 
obtained;  and  lastly  what  could  induce  them,  so 
late  then  to  serve  a  Lease  of  Ejectment  on  it." 

The  answers  to  these  questions  we  arc  left  to  con- 
jecture, as  except  the  boundaries  of  the  jjatents  it 
refers  to,  which  accompany  it.  Nothing  else  appears 
on  the  paper.  It  is  apparently  part  of  a  lawyer's 
statement  of  facts,  upon  which  to  base  an  opin- 
ion. It  would  seem  from  the  statement  itself 
that  the  Bridges  Patent  was  granted  on  the  idea 
that  Lieutenant-Governor  Nanfan  for  some  reason 
not  stated,  had  not  the  power  to  issue  the  West 
Patent  when  he  did,  and  that  it  was  therefore  of  no 
effect.  An  utterly  false  idea,  for  his  power  as  Com- 
mander-in-chief was  exactly  that  of  all  Governors- 
in-chief,  as  set  forlh  in  the  royal  "  Instructions  "  to 
each  of  them.  The  West  Patent  remained,  undis- 
turbed, and  is  the  foundation  of  the  present  title  to 
the  region  covered  by  it  (now  New  Castle  and  a 
large  part  of  North  Castle  and  a  part,  of  Bedford). 
The  suit  was  probably  a  scheme  of  some  lawyer,  or 
some  person,  who  was  a  personal  or  political  oppo- 
nent of  some  one  or  more  of  the  proprietors  of  the 
West  Patent,  for  the  value  of  the  land  then  was  en- 
tirely too  little  to  induce  a  speculative  action.  The 
following  is  the  text  of  the  West  Patent  from  a  certi- 
fied copy  of  1734,  in  the  writer's  possession. 

THE  WEST   PATENT. 

Recorded  at  the  request  of  Robt.  Wa/ters  A-  others. 

William  the  third  by  the  grace  of  God  of  England 
Scotland  ffrance  &  Ireland  King  Defender  of  the  ffaith 
&c,  To  all  to  whom  these  presents  shall  come  or  may 
consern  Greeting  Whereas — our  Loving  Subjects  Rob- 
ert Walters  Leigh  Attwood  Cornelius  Depeyster  Caleb 
Heathcote  Matthew  Clarkson  John  Chollwell  Richard 
Slater  Lancater  Simes  Robert  Lurting  &  Barne  Copens 
have  by  their  petitions  presented  unto  our  trusty  & 
wellbeloved  John  Nanfan  Esq'',  our  Leiut',  Gov',  & 
Commander  in  Cheif  of  our  Province  of  New  York 
and  the  territorieti  depending  thereon  in  America  &c, 


prayed  our  Grant  &  confirmati<m  of  a  Certain  tract  of 
Land  in  our  County  of  West  Chester  Bounded  North- 
erly by  the  Mannor  of  Courtlandt  Easterly  with 
Bedford  lane  of  three  Miles  Square  the  white  fcilds 
&  Byram  River  Southerly  by  the  Land  of  John  Har- 
rison Rye  line  Stretching  to  Byrani  River  afores'',  & 
the  White  plains  &  Westerly  by  Bronckx  river  &th 
Mannor  of  phillipsburgh  excepting  out  of  the  bounds 
aforesaid  all  thcLand  within  Richbills  patent  now  in 
the  tenure  &  Occupation  of  Coll  Caleb  Heathcote 
which  first  above  named  tract  of  Land  was  purchased 
by  Caleb  Heathcote  &  others  with  whom  lie  has 
agreed  excepting  James  Mott  &  Henry  Disbrowwhom 
he  hath  undertaken  to  Satisfy  within  wiiich  bounds 
there  are  by  Estimation  about  five  thousand  Acres 
of  profitable  Land  besides  Waste  &  Woodland  which 
reasonable  request  we  being  willing  to  grant  Knoii 
Ve  that  of  our  Special  Grace  certain  knowledge  & 
meer  motion  we  have  given  granted  ratified  &  con- 
firmed and  by  these  presents  do  for  us  our  heirs  & 
Successors  give  grant  ratify  &  confirm  unto  our  Said 
Loving  Subjects  Robert  Walters  Leigh  Attwood 
Cornelius  Depeyster  Caleb  Heathcote  M.  Clarkson 
Jn°  Chollwell  Rich''  Slater  Lancaster  Symes  Robert 
Lurting  &  Barne  Cosens  all  the  aforesaid  tract  of 
Land  within  our  County  of  Westchester  &  within 
the  limitts  &  bounds  afores''  together  with  all  and 
Singular  the  woods  underwoods  trees  timber  feedings 
pastures  meadows  marshes  swamps  ponds  poolles 
waters  water  Courses  rivers  rivulets  runs  brooks 
Streams  fishing  (fowling  hunting  &  hawking  mines 
Mineralls  (silver  and  Gold  mines  Excepted)  and  all 
other  profitts  benefitts  priviledges  Libertys  advantages 
Hereditaments  &  Appurtenances  whatsoever  co  the 
afores''  tract  of  Land  within  the  limitts  &  bounds  afores'' 
belonging  or  innywise  appertaining  To  have  and  to 
hold  all  the  aforesaid  tract  of  Land  together  with  all 
&  Singular  the  woods  underwoods  trees  timbers  feed- 
ings pastures  Meadows  Marshes  Swamps  ponds  pools 
waters  water  Courses  Rivers  Rivuletts  runs  brooks 
Streams  fishing  fowling  Huuting  and  Hawking  Mines 
Mineralls  Silver  and  Gold  mines  Excepted  &  ail  other 
profits  benefits  priviledges  I^ibertys  Advantages  He- 
reditaments &  appurtenances  whatsoever  to  the  afores'' 
tract  of  Land  in  this  the  Limitts  &  bounds  afores'' 
belonging  or  in  any  way  appertaining  unto  them  the 
said  Robert  Walters  Leigh  Atwood  Cornelius  Depey- 
ster Caleb  Heathcote  Matthew  Clarkson  John  Choll- 
well Richard  Slater  Lancaster  Symes  Rob'  Lurting 
and  Barne  Cosens  their  heirs  and  assigns  to  the  only 
proper  use  benefit  &  behoof  of  them  the  S''  Robert 
Leigh  Attwood  Cornelius  Depeyster  Caleb  Heathcote 
M  Clarkson,  Jn°,  Chollwell  Lancaster  Symes  Richard 
Slater  Robert  Lurting  &  Barne  Cosens  their  heirs  & 
Assigns  for  ever  7b  be  Holdrn  of  us  our  heirs  &  Suc- 
cessors in  free  &  Common  Socage  as  of  our  Mannour 
of  East  Greenwich  in  our  County  of  Kent  within  our 
Realm  of  England  Yeilding  rendering;  &  paying  there- 
fore Yearly  &  every  Year  for  ever  at  our  City  of  New 


40 


MAMARONECK. 


York  unto  us  our  heirs  and  Successors  or  to  Such  Of- 
ficer Or  Oflicera  as  shall  from  time  to  time  be  im- 
powered  to  receive  the  same  the  Annual  &  Yearly 
rent  of  Six  pounds  five  Shillings  Current  money  of 
New  York  in  Leiu  &  stead  of  all  other  rents  dues 
duties  Services  demands  w'aoever  In  Testimony  where- 
of we  have  caused  the  great  Seal  of  our  said  Prov- 
ince to  be  hereunto  affixed  Wititeit  John  Nanfan 
£^'  our  Leiu':  Governour  and  Commander  in 
Cheif  of  our  province  of  New  York  &  the  territories 
depending  thereon  in  America  &  Vice  Admiral  of  the 
same  &c  at  our  ffort  in  New  York  the  fourteenth  day  of 
ifeb^  A°  1701,  &  in  the  thirteenth  Year  of  our  Reign 
John  Nanfan,  By  his  Hon"  Command  M.  Clarkson 
Secry. 

Sccry"  Office  N  York  Mar  22d  1733 
A  true  Copy  from  the  Record 

fkred"  Morris,  D  Secry 
Compared  with  the  Record 
ALD 

It  will  be  noticed  how  carefully  this  patent  by  ex- 
press words  excepted  and  preserved  to  Colonel  Heath- 
cote  his  lands  under  the  Richbell  Patent,  which  in 
part  were  covered  by  its  boundaries.  The  portion  of 
this  Patent  in  Bedford  under  the  deed  from  Katonah 
above  given,  became  the  subject  of  controversy — 
and  remained  unsettled  till  1771,  when  the  dispute 
was  finally  terminated  by  the  following  mutual  Agree- 
ment, the  original  of  which  is  in  the  writer's  pos- 
session. 

Agreement  between  the  Proprietors  o/  the  West  Patent 
and  Becyord. 
"  It  is  this  day  agreed  between  the  proprietors  of 
that  part  of  the  West  Patent  in  Westchester  County 
which  was  releiuied  to  the  said  proprietors  by  Caleb 
Fowler  Benjamin  Smith,  &  Joseph  Sutton  &  the 
persons  settled  upon  the  same  Lauds  and  claiming  a 
title  thereto  under  the  Township  of  Bedford,  that  the 
whole  matters  in  Dispute  between  the  said  parties, 
shall  be  submitted  to  the  arbitration  of  Richard 
Willis  &  William  .Seaman  of  Jerico,  George  Town- 
send  of  Norwich,  Thomas  Hicks,  &  Hendrick  Onder- 
douk  of  the  Township  of  Hempstead,  &  all  of  Queens 
County,  Gent".  That  the  whole  matters  Differ- 
ences in  Dispute  between  the  said  parties  shall  be 
submitted  to  the  determination  of  the  said  retTerees 
or  any  three  or  more  of  them  without  any  Exception 
whatever.  That  Bonds  shall  be  executed  mutually 
each  in  the  penall  sum  of  £5000  New  York  Money '  to 
stand  to  the  award  of  the  said  Refferees  or  any  three 
or  more  of  them.  That  the  award  shall  be  made  and 
ready  to  be  delivered  to  the  parties  or  some  of  them 
on  or  before  the  first  day  of  September  next.  That 
if  the  Arbitrators  or  any  three  or  more  of  them  shall 
award  the  Lands  in  Dispute  to  be  the  property  of  the 
proprietors  claiming  under  the  West  Patent,  then  the 


>  12,a00  dolUn. 


said  Reiferees  or  any  three  or  more  of  them  are  to 
award  what  sum  the  persons  claiming  under  Bedford 
are  to  pay  by  the  acre  for  the  said  Lands  and  the 
West  Patent  proprietors  are,  upon  payment  thereof, 
to  release  all  their  right  in  the  Lands  to  the  persona 
claiming  under  Bedford,  &  shall  warrant  &  Defend 
them  .'^i.  all  persons  claiming  under  the  West  Patent. 
The  jiinproveraents  are  not  to  be  valued,  and  if  the 
RetTerees  or  any  three  or  more  of  them  award  that 
the  proprietors  of  the  West  Patent  are  not  entitled  to 
the  Lands  in  Dispute  but  that  the  same  are  the  prop- 
erty of  the  claimants  under  Bedford,  then  that  the 
former  shall  release  all  their  right  to  the  latter  of, 
in,  and  to,  the  Lands  in  Dispute.  Dated  this  27th 
day  of  March  1771, 

John  Baru  | 

David  Clarkson  \  in     Behalf    of    the     West 
Thomas  Jones '   )  Patent  Proprietors. 
James  Wright      I  in     Behalf   of   the    claim- 
John  Lawrence    i  ants  under  Bedford. 

Under  this  agreement  the  settlement  was  made,  the 
Bedford  people  paying  about  eight  shillings  per  acre, 
it  is  believed,  for  the  land  to  the  proprietors  of  the 
West  Patent. 

A  somewhat  similar  settlement  had  been  made  six 
years  before,  in  1765,  by  the  Proprietors  of  the  Mid- 
dle Patent,  or  "the  Whitefields  Patent"  as  it  was 
often  called,  which  adjoined  the  West  Patent  on  the 
East,  by  a  like  arbitration  with  Samuel  Banks  and 
some  twenty  four  others,  who  having  bought  the 
rights  of  two  or  three  of  the  Patentees  entered  upon, 
and  took  possession  of  the  whole  of  that  Patent,  the 
grant  for  which  is  as  follows : 

THE   MIDDLE   PATENT. 

{The  Whitefieldt). 
"  William  the  Third,  by  the  grace  of  God,  of  Eng- 
land, Scotland,  France,  and  Ireland,  King,  Defender 
of  the  Faith,  &c.,  to  all  to  whom  these  presents  shall 
come  or  may  concern,  sendeth  greeting :  Whereas  our 
loving  subjects  Col.  Caleb  Heathcote,  Joseph  Theal, 
John  Horton,  Joseph  Purdy,  Robert  Walters,  Leigh 
Atwood,  Matthew  Clarkson,  Lancaster  Sims,  Cornelius 
Depeyster,  Richard  Slater,  John  Ghollwell,  Robert 
Lurting,  and  Barne  Cosens,  have  by  their  petition, 
presented  unto  our  trusty  and  well  beloved  John  Nan- 
fan, Esq.,  our  Lieut.  Governor  and  Commander-in- 
chief  of  our  Province  of  New  York  and  territories 
depending  thereon  in  America,  &c.,  and  prayed  our 
grant  and  confirmation  of  a  certain  tract  of  land  in 
the  county  of  Westchester,  bounded  southerly  by  the 
colony  line  of  Connecticut,  easterly  by  Mahanas 
river,  northerly  by  Bedford  line  and  marked  trees  to 
Mahanas  river  again,  and  southerly  as  the  said  river 


>  Then  recorder  of  New  York,  and  Ister  Judge  of  the  Supreme  Oourt, 
the  Author  of  the  Hiitorv  of  New  York  during  the  Kf  volutlonsry  War. 
He  repreaentvd  the  Heathcote  eaUto,  bh  wifa,  Anna  De  Laneajr,  being 
a  granddaughter  of  Colonel  Heathcote. 


MAMARONECK. 


41 


goes  against  the  stream  to  ye  head  of  the  said  river, 
and  so  to  the  said  colony  line,  which  said  tract  of 
land  on  the  6th  day  of  July  last  past,  was  by  our  said 
Caleb  Heathcote,  Joseph  Theal,  John  Horton  and 
Joseph  Purdy,  &c.,  purchased  of  the  native  proprie- 
tors, and  containing  within  the  limits  aforesaid,  by 
estimation,  about  1500  acres  of  profitable  land,  be- 
sides wastes  and  wood  lands,  which  reasonable  request, 
we  being  willing  to  grant,  know  ye,  that  of  our  espe- 
cial grace,  certain  knowledge  and  mere  motion,  we 
have  given,  granted,  ratified  and  confirmed,  and  by 
these  presents  doe  for  us,  our  heirs  and  successors, 
give,  grant,  ratify  and  confirm  unto  our  said  loving 
subjects,  Col,  Caleb  Heathcote,  Joseph  Theal,  John 
Horton,  Joseph  Purdy,  Robert  Walters,  Lsigh  At- 
wood,  Matthew  Clarkson,  Lancaster  tiims,  Cornelius 
Depeyster,  Richard  Slater,  John  Chollwell,  Robert 
Lurting  and  Barne  Cosens,  all  the  afore  recited  tract 
of  land  within  the  county  of  Westchester,  and  within 
the  limits  and  bounds  aforesaid,  together  with  all  and 
singular  the  woods,  underwoods,  trees,  timber,  feed- 
ings, pastures,  meadows,  marshes,  swamps,  ponds, 
pools,  waters,  water-courses,  rivern,  rivulets,  runs, 
brooks,  streams,  fishing,  fowling,  hunting,  hawking, 
&c.,  mines,  minerals,  &c.,  (silver  and  gold  mines  ex- 
cepted,) and  all  other  profits,  benefits,  privileges,  lib- 
erties, advantages,  hereditaments  and  appurtenances 
whatsoever  to  the  aforesaid  tract  of  land,  within  the 
limits  and  bounds  aforesaid,  belonging  or  in  any  way 
or  ways  appertaining,  unto  them  the  said  Colonel 
Caleb  Heathcote,  &c.,  <&c.,  their  heirs  and  assigns  to 
the  only  proper  use,  benefit  and  behoof  of  him  the 
said  Colonel  Caleb  Heathcote,  &c.,  &c.,  their  heirs 
and  assigns  for  ever,  to  be  holden  of  us,  our  heirs  and 
successors,  in  free  and  common  soccage  as  of  our 
manor  of  East  Greenwich  in  our  county  of  Kent, 
within  our  realm  of  England,  yielding,  rendering,  and 
paying  therefor  yearly  and  every  year,  on  the  first  day 
of  the  Nativity  of  our  Blessed  Saviour,  the  annual 
yearly  rent  of  one  pound,  seven  nhillings  and  six- 
pence, current  money  of  New  York,  in  lieu  and  stead 
of  all  other  rents,  dues,  duties,  services  and  demands 
whatsoever.  In  testimony  whereof,  we  have  caused 
the  great  seal  of  our  said  Province  to  be  hereunto  af- 
fixed. Witness  John  Nanfan,  Esq.,  our  Lieutenant 
Governor  and  Commander-in-chief  of  our  Province 
of  New  York  and  territories  depending  thereon  in 
America,  and  Vice- Admiral  of  the  same,  at  our  Fort 
in  New  York,  this  17th  day  of  February,  1701-2,  and 
in  the  fourteenth  year  of  our  reign.'' ' 

"John  Nakfajj." 

This,  the  smallest  of  the  three  Great  Patents,  was 
held  by  its  Patentees  without  a  division  of  their 
interests  till  1733,  when  the  following  appointment 
of  Samuel  Purdy  to  lay  it  out  was  made : 

"New  York  Aug.  y".  20'":  1733. 

"  We  the  Undersigned  owners  and  Proprietors  of  a 


certain  Tract  of  Land,  Called  Whitefeild'  in  the 
County  of  Westchester,  Do  authorize  and  appoint 
Samuel  Purdy,  Esq*,  to  Lay  out  and  Divide  the  said 
Lands  in  Order  To  our  coming  to  an  Entire  Division 
of  the  Same,  to  Each  Respective  Pattentee  or  his 
assigns. 
Witness  our  Hands 

James  De  Lancey 
D.  Clarkson 
C.  D'Peyster 
P.  Fauconnier 
John  Symes 
,  Josiah  Quimby. 

Memorand".  for  Justice  Purdy  to  take  Notice 
where  the  Division  Line  between  Greenwich  and 
Stamford  falls  upon  the  Colony  Line. 

A  true  copy  From  y*  Originall  by 

Sam'.  Purdy."  > 

Mr.  Purdy  accepted  the  appointment  and  acted. 
He  divided  the  Patent  into  two  parts  which  he  called 
the  "  East  "  and  "  West"  Ranges,  containing  thirteen 
"Lotts  "  each.  The  number  of  acres  in  each  is  not 
now  known,  but  the  value  of  each  lot  is  shown  by  the 
original  list  and  valuation  by  Purdy,  in  the  writer's 
possession,  which  is  as  follows : — 

An  Estimate  of  the  Lotts  in  Whitefield  Fatten/. 


Kut  Range. 
No. 
1.            

£ 
...    93  00 

No. 
1 

Wen  Range. 

£ 

73  00 

2 

..    U3  no 

2 

78  00 

3 

..     8.')  00 

3 

H5  00 

4 

...     85  00 

4 

6. 

U5  00 

5.                       

80  00 

96  00 

6 

...     &4  00 

6 

92  00 

7.             

14  00 

7. 

77  00 

8 

..     44  UO 

8 

77  00 

0 

...     44  00 

9 

84  00 

10 

...     44  00 

10 

11 

12 

13 

88  00 

11 

...     50  OU 

96  00 

12         

..     82  00 

100  00 

13 

..    72  00 

100  00 

Tntall 

£850  00 

£1189  00 
860  00 

£1989  00 

1  Book  of  Patent*,  No.  vll.  224,  Sec.  of  State'a  Office,  Albnny. 


Pr  nie 

Sam"  Purdy. 

The  names  of  the  persons  living  on  this  Patent  six 
years  after  Purdy's  appointment  above  given  were 
collected  by  Benjamin  Fox  of  King  Street  and  sent 
to  Mr.  Murray  of  New  York,  who  was  the  lawyer  and 
agent  of  some  of  the  patentees.  Under  date  of  "  King 
St.  8"'  y'  7"",  1739,"  Fox  writes  Murray,  "  Inclosed 
have  sent  you  the  names  of  the  People  Possessed  on 
the  Whitefeild,  or  Middle  Patent  which  have  Indev- 
our*  to  colect  as  well  as  I  could."  The  list  which 
is  on  a  separate  paper,  is  as  follows  : 

'This  name,  aingularly  enough  is  ao  tpelled  in  all  the  old  deeds  anil 
documents.    It  should,  of  course,  have  been  "  Whitefleids." 

■  From  an  ancient  copy  in  the  writer's  puaeesion,  In  ^muel  Purdjr's 
handwriting. 


48 


MAMARONECK. 


Owens 

John  Finch 
John  Briuh 
Bcnj  Brush 
Bam"  Peters 
Ebius  Urouk 
Francis  Purdy 
John  Purdy  * 


ThoB.  Hutchins 
Thos.  Meritt 
John  Runells,  Sen' 
John  Runells  Jun' 
Beiy.  Piatt 
Jacob  Finch 
Sam"  Banks 
1'tinM  »'i  ->niiii. 

When,  twenty-flve  years  later,  the  final  settlement 
of  1765,  between  the  patentees  and  the  settlers  above 
referred  to,  was  made,  the  parties  then  in  possession, 
whose  names  are  recited  in  the  award,  were; — Sam" 
Banks,  John  Banks,  Benoy  Piatt,  Jonathan  Piatt,  John 
Runnels,  Jonathan  Owens,  John  Rundle,  John  Arm- 
strong, Roger  Sutherland,  Smith  Sutherland,  Charles 
Green,  Charles  Green,  Jun',  David  Bnindige,  Walter 
Morris,  Aaron  Furman,  Jun',  Shubel  Brush,  James 
Bnindige,  Stephen  Edegett,  Nehemiah  Brundige,  ' 
Abraham  Knapp,  Joshua  Lounsbery,  Daniel  Brown, 
Jun',  Fhinehas  Knapp,  Jeremiah  Numau,  Robert 
Murfee,  Jeremiah  Green. 

Some  of  these  names  appear  in  Fox's  list  of  1739, 
but  only  a  few. 

The  arbitrators  in  1765  were:  "Daniel  Kissam, 
Samuel  Townsend,  George  Weekes,  Benjamin  Tread- 
well  and  David  Batty,  all  of  Queens  County"  and 
their  award  dated  October  6,  1765,  recites  that  they, 
"  having  sat  as  arbitrators  and  heard  the  said  disputes, 
and  having  deliberately  heard,  examined,  and  consid- 
ered all  the  proofs  and  allegations  of  the  said  Parties 
in  Controversy,  do  for  the  settling  peace  and  amity 
between  them  make  this  our  award,  order,  arbitra- 
ment, determination,  and  judgment  of  and  upon  the 
Premises  as  Follows — First,  We  do  award  and  order, 
that  the  said  Anne  De  Lancey,  John  Bard,  Pierre  De- 
peyster,  David  Clarkson,  Peter  Remsen,  and  John 
Ogelbie,  and  all  others  who  claim  lands  under  the  said 
Patent  which  are  not  already  sold  or  conveyed  to  the 
persons  now  in  possession  of  the  said  lands,  or  to 
those  under  whom  they  claim,  or  to  some  or  one  of 
them,  shall  and  do  upon  demand  execute  and  deliver 
in  due  form  of  law  a  release  of  all  their  rights  and 
Titles  of,  in,  and  to,  the  lands  specifyed  in  the  said 
Letters  Patent,  to  said  Samuel  Banks  and  the  other 
persons  above  named  who  are  now  in  possession  of 
the  said  Lands,  and  to  their  heirs  and  assigns  forever; 
and  that  the  said  Samuel  Banks  and  the  other  per- 
sons above  named,  who  are  now  in  possession  of  the 
said  Lands,  shall  and  do  upon  the  delivery  of  such 
Release  pay  unto  the  said  Anne  De  Lancey  and  such 
other  persons  as  are  hereby  ordered  to  Execute  the 
said  Release,  the  sum  of  nine  Shillings  New  York 
money '  for  every  acre  of  said  lands,  which  the  said 
Samuel  Banks  and  the  other  persons  above  named  or 
those  under  whom  they  claim,  or  some  or  one  of  them, 
have  not  already  purchased  of  some,  or  one,  of  the 

I  Origliutl  letter  and  llat  in  the  writer'!  pomnlon. 
-One  dollar  and  twelve  centn. 


patentees  in  the  said  letters  Patent  Named,  or  of 
those  claiming  under  the  said  patentees,  or  some  or 
one  of  them." ' 

The  East  Patent  was  granted  March  2*  1701  to  the 
same  Patentees  as  the  West  Patent  with  the  addition 
to  their  number  of  Peter  Matthews  of  Bedford.  Five 
days  before,  on  the  25th  of  February  in  the  same 
year,  Katonah,  Wakemane,  and  another  Indian  exe- 
cuted a  deed  of  contirmation  to  the  Patentees  of  their 
right  and  estate  in  the  tract*  in  which  they  thus  de- 
scribe, "  bounded  as  foUoweth  viz.  Westward  by  Bed- 
ford, and  by  the  patent  granted  to  Caleb  Ileathcoto 
and  others,"  northerly  by  Coll.  Cortlandt's  purchase 
and  Croton's  river,  southerly  and  easterly  by  the  Col- 
ony lines." 

The  patent  itself  in  its  general  language  is  similar 
to  those  of  the  Wost  and  Middle  Patents  above  set 
forth.     It  bounds  the  Tract  granted  in  these  words ; — 

The  East  Patent  BouncU 
"  Bounded  South,  by  the  division  Line  between 
New  York  and  Connecticut,  Eiist,  by  the  other 
division  Line  between  New  York  and  Connec- 
ticut, and  so  along  said  Line  untill  it  meets  with 
the  Patent  of  Adolf  Philipse,"  and  so  along  his 
southern  bounds  till  it  meets  with  the  Manner 
of  Cortlandt,  and  from  thence  by  a  Line  that 
shall  run  upon  a  direct  course  untill  it  meets  with  the 
first  easterly  Line  of  twenty  miles  of  thesaidMannor 
of  Cortlandt,  aud  from  thence  along  the  said  Line 
Westerly  till  it  meets  with  the  Patent  granted  to  R. 
Walter  and  others,'  thence  southerly  along  the  said 
Patent,  untill  it  meets  with  the  bounds  of  the  Town- 
ship of  Bedford,  and  thence  round  along  said  bounds 
until  it  meets  with  the  Patent  granted  to  Coll.  Heath- 
cote  and  others,  and"  thence  along  the  bounds  of  said 
Patent  unto  the  Colony  Line  where  it  began," 

No  attempt  was  made  to  settle  this  tract  till  about 
the  year  1744,  when  parties  from  Stamford  and  its 
neighborhood  acquired  portions  of  land  witl  in  its 
limits. 

The  area  of  these  three  great  Patents,  the  "  West," 
the  "  Middle,"  and  the  "  East,"  was  very  much  greater 
than  is  commonly  supposed.  The  Patents  themselves 
only  give  their  respective  areas  in  what  those  instru- 
ments term  "  profitable  land,"  that  is,  land  that  could 
be  easily  cultivated.  But  as  the  greater  part  of  north- 
ern and  central  Westchester  abounded  in  high  semi- 
mountainous  ridges,  rocky  heights,  and  great  forests, 
characteristics  which  to  a  large  extent  it  still  retains, 
the  "  profitable  land  "  really  bore  but  a  small  pro- 
portion to  what  was  then  deemed  the  unprofitable 
land.     How  very  extensive  these  great  patents  really 


>  From  the  original  award  itgned  by  all  the  arbitratora,  in  the  writer's 
poneaaion. 

4  Book  I.  p.  100,  Sec.  uf  State'a  Offe.  Albany. 

>The  "Middle  Patent." 

*  Phillpae'i  TTpper  Patent,  now  Putnam  County. 

>  The  Weit  Patent. 
'The  Middle  falmt. 


MAMARONECK. 


48 


were,  will  be  seen  from  the  following  authentic  state- 
ment : 

Peter  Fauconnier,  who  was  a  surveyor,  and  as  has 
been  stated,  an  owner  in  all  three  patents,  was,  with 
Lancaster  Symes,  the  active  managers  for  the  own- 
ers of  all  three  patents.  An  account  showing  the 
amounts  due  from  each  owner,  arran^ced  under,  the 
head  of  each  Patent  separately,  dated  in  1710,  in  the 
handwriting  of  Fauconnier  is  in  the  writer's  posses- 
sion, and  it  shows  that  the  three  Patents  together  con- 
tained seventy  thousand,  70,000,  Acres  of  Land.  The 
headings  of  the  accounts  of  the  three  patents  are 
these ; — 

"  The  first  of  the  3  Patents  above  mentioned  con- 
taining about  30,000  acres  of  rough  Land,  between  10 
Patentees."  ' 

"  The  Second  of  the  3  Patents  here-above  mentioned 
containing  about  5000  acres  of  rough  Land,  between 
13  Patentees." '' 

"  The  Third  of  the  3  Patents  here-above  mentioned 
containing  about  3r),000  acres  of  rough  Land,  between 
11  Patentees."' 

In  a  "  statement  of  the  three  Patents  "  which  has 
already  been  given,  siiowing  the  dates  of  the  Patents, 
the  Patentees'  names,  and  the  boundaries  granted  by 
each,  the  areas  of  each  are  set  down  in  what  that  doc- 
ument calls  "  Improvable  Land,"  corresponding  to 


'  Tlio  "  Went  Patent." 
3  The  tliddlo  Patent. 
»  The  "  Gut  Patent." 


the  "  Profitable  Land ''  of  the  Patents  themselves. 
As  will  be  seen,  by  referring  to  it,  that  document 
gives  for  the  different  Patents  these  areas ; — 

In  the  West  Patent,  5,000  Acres  Improvable  Land, 
In  the  Middle  Patent,  1,500  Acres  Improvable  Land, 
In  the  East  Patent,  6,200  Acres  Improvable  Land, 
In  all  together,  12700  Acres  Improvable  Laud,  which 
is  not  quite  one  sixth  of  the  actual  area  of  the  terri- 
tory of  the  three  Patents  by  Fauconnier's  account. 

As  the  whole  Manor  of  Cortlandt  north  of  the  Cro- 
ton  River  and  east  of  the  Hudson  containing  5(Kio 
acres  was  only  valued  in  1732  at  £962")  or  *25,()62,' 
and  as  the  twenty  six  lots  of  the  "  Middle  Patent " 
were  only  valued  in  1733,  at  iXSm,"  or  about  $5,001), 
both  valuations  being  made  for  the  respective  pro- 
prietors by  the  same  man,  Justice  Samuel  Purdy, 
and  as  the  Patentees  of  the  latter  were  only  awarded 
nine  shillings,  one  dollar  and  twelve  cents,  an  acre,  for 
their  unsold  lands  in  the  same  patent  in  1765,  a  gen- 
eration later,  it  is  easily  seen  how  very  little,  was  the 
actual  value  of  the  70,000  acres  of  the  three  great  pat- 
ents when  they  were  granted,  and  during  the  lifetime 
of  their  original  Patentees.  These  facts  also  show  how 
careful  we  should  always  be  in  considering  these  mat- 
ters not  to  judge  of  estates  in  the  17th,  and  18th,  cen- 
turies in  Westchester  County,  large  or  small,  by  the 
values  of,  either  the  early,  or  the  latter  part  of  the 
19th  century. 


<  Sw  in  Part  13,  ante,  p.  \Xt. 
i>  See  ante,  p.  88li. 


JhrY>   £l.j:=^>^  cc^t^cA^-^^--^ 


••■'•'•••'...'• 


•  •  •  • 
•• .  •  •  • 

•  •  • . ' 


•••  •  .•. .. 


